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| Apr 01 2016

  Manufacturing ISM Index Jumps on Production and Orders

  The ISM Composite Index of manufacturing activity rose more than expected to 51.8 in March from 49.5 in February. The Action Economics Forecast Survey had looked for an increase to 50.7. The data from the Institute for Supply [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Mar 16 2016

  Housing Starts Rebound in February, But Permits Fall

  Housing starts jumped up 5.2% (30.9% y/y) in February to 1.178 million units at an annual rate. There were also upward revisions to both December and January figures, months in which starts had fallen. The February reading exceeded [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Mar 15 2016

  U.S. Producer Prices Fall in February, Driven by Food and Energy

  The headline Final Demand Producer Price Index fell 0.2% m/m (0.0% y/y) in February after an unexpected 0.1% m/m rise in January. The February reading was spot on expectations from the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The unchanged [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Feb 17 2016

  U.S. Producer Prices Rise Unexpectedly in January

  The headline Final Demand Producer Price Index edged up 0.1% m/m (-0.2% y/y) in January. While this was a modest increase, it was 0.3%-pt above the Action Economics Forecast Survey expectation for a 0.2% m/m decline (this is a [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Feb 17 2016

  U.S. Producer Prices Rise Unexpectedly in January

  The headline Final Demand Producer Price Index edged up 0.1% m/m (-0.2% y/y) in January. While this was a modest increase, it was 0.3%-pt above the Action Economics Forecast Survey expectation for a 0.2% m/m decline (this is a [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Feb 12 2016

  U.S. Business Inventories Edge Up While Sales Slip in December

  Total business inventories edged up 0.1% m/m (1.7% y/y) in December, following a 0.1% m/m decline in both November and October. Total business sales fell 0.6% m/m (-2.7% y/y) in December for their third consecutive monthly decline. [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jan 22 2016

  U.S. Index of Leading Indicators Slips in December

  The Conference Board's Index of Leading Economic Indicators fell 0.2% m/m in December, following revised 0.5% m/m increases in November (initially +0.4%) and October (initially +0.6%). The Action Economics Forecast Survey had looked [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jan 15 2016

  U.S. Producer Prices Slip in December on Goods

  The headline Final Demand Producer Price Index fell 0.2% m/m (-1.0% y/y) in December after having jumped 0.3% m/m in November. This was the fourth monthly decline in the past five months. The Action Economics Forecast Survey had [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jan 06 2016

  November U.S. Trade Deficit Narrows Mostly on Weaker Imports

  The U.S. foreign trade deficit narrowed to $42.4 billion in November from a revised $44.6 billion in October (initially -$43.9 billion). The Action Economics Forecast Survey had anticipated a deficit of $44.2 billion. However, the [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Dec 23 2015

  Durable Goods Orders Rebound More Strongly Than Expected in October

  The durable goods figures are available in Haver's USECON database. The Action Economics consensus forecast figure is in the AS1REPNA database. Durable Goods NAICS Classification Nov Oct Sep Nov Y/Y 2014 2013 2012 New Orders (SA, %) [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Dec 23 2015

  U.S. Durable Goods Orders Little Changed in November

  Durable goods orders were little changed in November (+1.2%y/y) following a 2.9%m/m jump in October (revised down slightly from the initially reported 3.0%m/m rise). Action Economics' Forecast Survey had anticipated a 0.7%m/m decline. [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Dec 22 2015

  U.S. Existing Home Sales in November Hit by New Regulations

  The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales slumped 10.5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 4.76 million homes. This was the lowest level of sales since April 2014. All four major [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief