Introducing

Sandy Batten

Sandy Batten has more than 30 years of experience analyzing industrial economies and financial markets and a wide range of experience across the financial services sector, government, and academia.   Before joining Haver Analytics, Sandy was a Vice President and Senior Economist at Citibank; Senior Credit Market Analyst at CDC Investment Management, Managing Director at Bear Stearns, and Executive Director at JPMorgan.   In 2008, Sandy was named the most accurate US forecaster by the National Association for Business Economics. He is a member of the New York Forecasters Club, NABE, and the American Economic Association.   Prior to his time in the financial services sector, Sandy was a Research Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Senior Staff Economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the US Treasury, and Economist at the International Monetary Fund. Sandy has taught economics at St. Louis University, Denison University, and Muskingun College. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in a wide range of academic publications. He has a B.A. in economics from the University of Richmond and a M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from The Ohio State University.  

Publications by Sandy Batten

• Global| Aug 15 2018

  U.S. Industrial Production Softer in July on Weaker Utilities Output

  Industrial production edged up 0.1% m/m (4.2% y/y) in July but the 0.6% m/m rise initially reported for June was revised up to a sturdy 1.0% m/m increase. The consensus from the Action Economics Survey had looked for a 0.3% m/m gain. [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Aug 01 2018

  TT

  The value of construction put-in-place increased 0.4% month-on-month in May (4.5% year-on-year), slightly less than the 0.5% expected by the Action Economics Forecast Survey. April's gain was cut in half to 0.9% m/m and March's drop [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Aug 01 2018

  U.S. Construction Spending Unexpectedly Falls in June

  The value of construction put-in-place unexpectedly fell in June, declining 1.1% m/m (+6.1% y/y) following solid, upwardly revised increases in both April and May. The April rise was revised from the initially reported 0.9% m/m [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jul 31 2018

  U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices Stable but Elevated in July

  Retail gasoline prices declined to $2.83 per gallon last week (+22.4% y/y) ........... These data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy. The price data can be found in Haver's WEEKLY and DAILY databases. Greater detail on [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jul 31 2018

  U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices Stable but Elevated in July

  Retail gasoline prices edged up to $2.85 per gallon in the last week of July from $2.83 the previous week. Compared with a year ago, retail gasoline prices are up 21.0% but have been relatively flat over the past month. Gasoline [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 01 2018

  U.S. Construction Spending Stronger than Expected in April

  The value of construction put-in-place recovered in April, rising a larger-than-expected 1.8% m/m (8.3% y/y) after having fallen 1.7% m/m in March (unrevised). The 1.0% m/m increase initially reported for February was revised up to a [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 01 2018

  ISM Factory Sector Index Rebounds in May

  Activity in the factory sector picked up in May following a moderation in April. The ISM headline manufacturing index jumped 1.4 points to 58.7 in May from 57.3 in April. This index has moderated since earlier this year, but remains [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 01 2018

  U.S. Construction Spending Stronger than Expected in April

  The value of construction put-in-place recovered in April, rising a larger-than-expected 1.8% m/m (8.3% y/y) after having fallen 1.7% m/m in March (unrevised). The 1.0% m/m increase initially reported for February was revised up to a [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 01 2018

  TT

  The value of construction put-in-place improved 0.1% (3.7% y/y) during February following unrevised stability in January. A 0.4% rise in building activity had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Private sector [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 01 2018

  U.S. Construction Spending Slumped in March, Big Upward Revisions to January and February

  The value of construction put-in-place slumped in March, falling 1.7% m/m (+3.9% y/y). The Action Economics Forecast Survey had looked for a 0.5% m/m rise in building activity. Unusual winter-like weather was probably at the heart of [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Apr 24 2018

  U.S. Consumer Confidence Weakens

  The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell 1.8% during March (+2.2% y/y) to 127.7 following a 4.6% increase during February to 130.0......... The Consumer Confidence data is available in Haver's CBDB database. The total [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Apr 24 2018

  U.S. Consumer Confidence Unexpectedly Rose in April

  The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index rose to 128.7 in April from 127.0 (initially reported as 127.7) in March and was 7.8% higher than a year ago. The Action Economics Forecast Survey had looked for a slight decline in the [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief