The Chicago Business Barometer plummeted to 48.7 in September from 54.4 in August. This is lowest reading since May 2015 and was led by sharp declines in production and new orders. The drop in the index to below 50 points to a [...]
Introducing
Sandy Batten
in:Our Authors
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| Sep 30 2015Chicago Business Barometer Slumped in September
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 29 2015
U.S. Consumer Confidence Adds to Gains in September
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index in September unexpectedly added to its outsized August gains. The overall index rose 1.7% in September from August to 103.0 on top of a 11.3%m/m jump in August. The September reading [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 09 2015
2Q U.S. Quarterly Services Survey: Real Estate Strong, Utilities Weak
The Quarterly Services Survey is the most timely and comprehensive measure of economic activity in the U.S. service sector. It is conducted by the Census Bureau and covers 5,000 service businesses with paid employees. The Bureau of [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 08 2015
NFIB Survey Shows Strong Labor Markets But Modest Activity
The National Federation of Independent Business reported that the small business outlook was little changed in August. Its Small Business Optimism Index edged up to 95.9 in August from 95.4 in July, but remains below the 96.8 average [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 04 2014
U.S. ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Shows Further Strength
The pace of nonmanufacturing activity continued to accelerate in August with the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) composite nonmanufacturing index rising to 59.6 from 58.7 in July. This is a diffusion index with a reading above [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 03 2014
U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Soar to 103-month High in August
According to the Autodata Corporation, sales of light vehicles soared in August, jumping up to a much larger-than-expected 17.53 million units (SAAR) from 16.48 million in July. Increased automaker incentives interacted with a [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 02 2014
U.S. ISM Manufacturing Index Continues to Climb in August
The U.S. manufacturing sector continued its solid rebound as the Institute for Supply Management's index of manufacturing sector activity jumped to 59.0 in August from 57.1 in July and 55.3 in June. The August move was much larger [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Nov 27 2013
U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Fall Further
After an outsize decline in the previous week, seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims belied market expectations in the week ending November 23, falling 10,000 to 316,000. The market consensus had looked for a modest rebound [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Nov 27 2013
November U.S. Consumer Sentiment Rebounds Slightly
Consumer sentiment from the Reuters/University of Michigan survey rebounded slightly in the second half of November - to 75.1 from the early-November reading of 72.0 and October's 73.2. The market consensus had looked for a slightly [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Nov 27 2013
U.S. October Durable Goods Orders Slip on Swing in Aircraft Orders
U.S. durable goods orders fell 2.0% in October, in line with market expectations, after an upwardly revised 4.1% monthly jump in September. A wide swing in transportation orders (mostly aircraft) was behind both the September increase [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Nov 26 2013
U.S. Consumer Confidence Falls Further in November
Consumer confidence fell further in November - to 70.4 after having plunged in October from September's 80.2. The outsize October move had been attributed mostly to the federal government shutdown and budget battle that had transpired [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Nov 26 2013
September and October U.S. Housing Permits
US housing permits for both September and October were released today, with the release of September data having been delayed by the federal government shutdown (October 1-16, 2013). However, housing starts data for September and [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
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