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Economist Biographies

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Scott Hoyt

Scott Hoyt is senior director of consumer economics for Moody's Economy.com. He is responsible for the firm’s consumer forecasts and analysis, and is a regular contributor to the Dismal Scientist web site and to Moody’s Economy.com conferences. He is the lead analyst for CreditForecast.com and is the editor of ConsumerFlow.com. He has done custom modeling for credit and consumer sector clients. His areas of expertise include consumer spending, retail sales and industry performance, consumer credit, and other aspects of consumer behavior.

Before joining Moody’s Economy.com, Dr. Hoyt spent five years as an economist for J.C. Penney, where he did extensive work in the company's credit department. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his B.A. summa cum laude from Bates College.

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Analysis

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Jul 20, 2010  The U.S. Credit Cycle Prepares to Turn
Jul 14, 2010  Overstretched Consumers Can't Keep Up the Pace
Jun 11, 2010  Did Appliances Drive May's Retail Sales Dip?
Jun 08, 2010  Policy Changes Could Affect Household Income
Jun 07, 2010  Retailers May Be Poised to Hire
Jun 04, 2010  U.S. Economic Preview: June 7-11
May 20, 2010  High-End Spending Revival Is Less Than Advertised
May 11, 2010  The Return of the Spendthrift American Consumer?
Apr 26, 2010  Where Are Consumers Getting the Cash?
Apr 01, 2010  When Will U.S. Consumer Confidence Recover?
Mar 09, 2010  Will U.S. Consumers Spend or Save?
Mar 04, 2010  Chain Store Sales Hold Up Despite Storms
Feb 23, 2010  Is a Value-Added Tax in the U.S.'s Future?
Feb 04, 2010  Inventories Limit January Chain Store Sales
Jan 22, 2010  U.S. Consumer Outlook 2010: On the Sidelines
Jan 14, 2010  A Disappointing Season for Retail Sales
Jan 07, 2010  Chain Store Sales Up, but No Sign of Consumer Turnaround
Dec 03, 2009  November Chain Store Sales Disappoint
Nov 18, 2009  As Federal Support Fades, Spending Faces Test
Nov 12, 2009  Wal-Mart Data Indicate That Overall Spending Is Slow
Nov 02, 2009  As the Rich Recover, Will They Take the Economy Along?
Oct 22, 2009  U.S. Holiday Sales Will Not Drive Recovery
Oct 08, 2009  Retailers See Improvement in September
Sep 24, 2009  U.S. Household Debt Burdens Dip, but Are Still High
Sep 03, 2009  Retailers Still Reporting Sales Declines Amid Consumer Woes
Aug 27, 2009  Consumers in No Shape to Lead U.S. Out of Recession
Aug 06, 2009  Weak Retailer Reports Continue Recent Trends
Jul 09, 2009  Special Factors Contribute to Sorry Retailer Reports
Jun 04, 2009  Retailers' Weak Reports Consistent With Spending Outlook
May 07, 2009  Retailer Reports Improve
Apr 09, 2009  Retailers Report Spending Declines May Be Moderating
Mar 12, 2009  Is U.S. Consumer Spending Leveling Off?
Mar 05, 2009  Retailer Reports Beat Expectations
Feb 06, 2009  U.S. Economic Preview: February 9-13
Jan 30, 2009  U.S. Economic Preview: February 2-6
Jan 23, 2009  U.S. Economic Preview: January 26-30
Jan 09, 2009  U.S. Economic Preview: January 12-16
Jan 06, 2009  Do Rebates Stimulate the Economy?
Dec 24, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: December 29-January 2
Dec 19, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: December 22-26
Dec 05, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: December 8-12
Nov 21, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: November 24-26
Oct 26, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: October 27-31
Oct 11, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: October 13-17
Oct 08, 2008  Holiday Outlook: Red Ink, Blue Consumers
Oct 08, 2008  Chain Store Sales Weak but Not Collapsing
Sep 06, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: September 8-12
Aug 22, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: August 25-29
Aug 09, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: August 11-15
Aug 03, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: August 4-8
Aug 01, 2008  A Make-or-Break Holiday Season
Jul 25, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: July 28-August 1
Jul 23, 2008  Why Doesn't Fed Sound More Worried About Growth?
Jul 18, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: July 21-25
Jul 12, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: July 14-18
Jul 04, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: July 7-11
Jun 22, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: June 23-27
Jun 07, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: June 9-13
May 23, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: May 26-30
May 09, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: May 12-16
Apr 25, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: April 28-May 2
Apr 18, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: April 21-25
Apr 11, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: April 14-18
Apr 04, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: April 7 - April 11
Mar 20, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: March 24-28
Mar 12, 2008  Financial Obligations Remain Uncomfortably High
Mar 08, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: March 10-14
Feb 22, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: February 25-29
Feb 08, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: February 11-15
Jan 25, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: January 28-February 1
Jan 11, 2008  U.S. Economic Preview: January 14-18
Dec 21, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: December 24-28
Dec 15, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: December 17-21
Dec 09, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: December 10-14
Dec 02, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: December 3-7
Nov 24, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: Nov. 26-30
Nov 18, 2007  Retailer Woes, Consumers and the Economy
Nov 17, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: Nov. 19-23
Nov 10, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: Nov. 12-16
Nov 04, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: November 5-9
Oct 29, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: October 29-November 2
Oct 20, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: October 22-26
Oct 05, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: Oct 8-12
Oct 02, 2007  Holiday Outlook: Weak, but No Disaster
Sep 26, 2007  U.S. Industry Outlook: Early Warning Signs
Sep 23, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: Sept. 24-28
Sep 07, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: Sept. 10-14
Aug 24, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: August 27-31
Aug 20, 2007  The Consumer Fallout
Aug 11, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: August 13-17
Jul 30, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 7/30/07
Jul 20, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 7/23/07
Jul 08, 2007  U.S. Preview: July 9-13
Jul 06, 2007  Do U.S. Retail Job Losses Make Sense?
Jun 22, 2007  U.S. Preview: June 25-29
Jun 11, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 6/11/07
May 28, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 5/28/07
May 23, 2007  Moody's Economy.com U.S. Industry Outlook
May 13, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 5/14/07
May 06, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview 5/7/2007
May 01, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 4/30/2007
Apr 26, 2007  Housing and Spending
Apr 23, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 4/23/2007
Apr 15, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 4/16/2007
Apr 06, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview 4/9/2007
Mar 25, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview 3/26/2007
Mar 10, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview 3/12/2007
Feb 25, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 2/26/2007
Feb 11, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview 2/12/2007
Feb 07, 2007  Moody's Economy.com 2007 U.S. Consumer Finance Outlook
Jan 28, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 1/29/2007
Jan 24, 2007  Moody's Economy.com U.S. Industry Outlook
Jan 18, 2007  Moody's Economy.com 2007 U.S. Consumer Spending Outlook
Jan 15, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 1/16/2007
Jan 05, 2007  U.S. Economic Preview: 1/8/2007
Jan 02, 2007  U.S. Holiday Spending Growth Likely Met Our Forecast
Dec 27, 2006  U.S. Financial Obligations Stabilize Near Record High
Dec 22, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 12/25/2006
Dec 20, 2006  More Positive U.S. Spending Surprises?
Dec 17, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 12/18/2006
Dec 11, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 12/11/2006
Dec 01, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 12/4/2006
Nov 22, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 11/27/2006
Nov 17, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 11/20/2006
Nov 12, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 11/13/2006
Nov 10, 2006  U.S. Consumers Keep Borrowing to Spend
Nov 06, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 11/6/2006
Oct 27, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 10/30/2006
Oct 22, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 10/23/2006
Sep 25, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 9/25/2006
Sep 21, 2006  Holiday Spending Looks Pretty Good
Sep 08, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 9/11/2006
Aug 25, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 8/28/2006
Aug 24, 2006  Is U.S. Consumer Confidence Weak?
Aug 11, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 8/14/2006
Aug 05, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 8/07/2006
Jul 28, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 7/31/2006
Jul 22, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 7/24/2006
Jul 09, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 7/10/2006
Jun 25, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 6/26/2006
Jun 22, 2006  Cash Flow Has Supported U.S. Spending Growth
Jun 12, 2006  U.S. Households' Flow of Funds
Jun 11, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 6/12/2006
May 29, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 5/30/2006
May 21, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 5/22/2006
Apr 30, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 5/1/2006
Apr 21, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 4/24/2006
Apr 07, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 4/10/2006
Mar 26, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 3/27/2006
Mar 10, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview: 3/13/2006
Mar 10, 2006  U.S. Consumer Obligations Dip
Feb 25, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 2/27/2006
Feb 10, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 2/13/2006
Jan 30, 2006  Moody's Economy.com 2006 U.S. Consumer Finance Outlook
Jan 28, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 1/30/2006
Jan 24, 2006  Holiday Sales Slightly Exceed Expectations
Jan 20, 2006  Moody's Economy.com 2006 U.S. Consumer Spending Outlook
Jan 06, 2006  U.S. Economic Preview 1/9/2006
Dec 29, 2005  Debt Burdens Keep Rising
Dec 16, 2005  U.S. Economic Preview 12/19/2005
Dec 02, 2005  U.S. Economic Preview 12/05/2005
Nov 18, 2005  U.S. Economic Preview 11/21/2005
Oct 13, 2005  U.S. Consumers Will Keep Spending
Oct 11, 2005  Katrina: An Assessment of the Impacts on U.S. Consumers
Oct 07, 2005  U.S. Economic Preview 10/10/05
Aug 29, 2005  Katrina: Impacts on U.S. Consumption and Income
Aug 26, 2005  U.S. Economic Preview
Jul 29, 2005  Record Low U.S. Personal Saving
May 14, 2005  U.S. Commerce Department Announces Apparel Quotas Are Coming
Apr 04, 2005  The First Step Toward New U.S. Apparel Quotas
Mar 28, 2005  Chinese Apparel Exports Surging
Mar 10, 2005  Chinese Apparel Exports to the U.S. Surge
Mar 03, 2005  U.S. Chain Store Sales Exceed Expectations
Mar 02, 2005  U.S. Bankruptcy Filings Declined in 2004
Feb 16, 2005  Possible Positives for Consumer Spending
Jan 31, 2005  Microsoft Dividend Will Lower U.S. Disposable Income Growth
Jan 28, 2005  2004 U.S. Income Growth Best Since 1999
Jan 27, 2005  2005 U.S. Consumer Finance Outlook
Jan 25, 2005  2005 U.S. Retail Outlook
Jan 18, 2005  U.S. Retail Sales Growth Expected to Slow
Jan 13, 2005  The Best Holiday Season Since 1999
Jan 13, 2005  Retail Data Confirms Strong Fourth Quarter Consumer Spending
Jan 07, 2005  Historic Decline in U.S. Consumer Credit Usage
Jan 07, 2005  2005 U.S. Consumer Spending Outlook
Jan 06, 2005  Holiday Wrap-up
Jan 03, 2005  A Quota Free World
Dec 23, 2004  U.S. Consumer Confidence Climbs
Dec 21, 2004  U.S. Holiday Sales Are on Track
Dec 14, 2004  U.S. Financial Obligations Rise
Dec 13, 2004  China to Limit Growth of Textile Exports
Dec 10, 2004  Household Balance Sheets
Dec 06, 2004  Wal-Mart Sales Weak
Dec 02, 2004  Does the Weak November Doom the Holiday Season?
Dec 02, 2004  Post Quota Battles Heat Up
Dec 01, 2004  Mixed Fundamentals Yield Mixed Confidence Readings
Nov 17, 2004  Sears and Kmart Merge to Create Third Largest U.S. Retailer
Nov 04, 2004  Holiday Outlook Still Looks Healthy
Nov 01, 2004  Spending Rebound Overstated
Nov 01, 2004  Retail Inventory Issues
Oct 19, 2004  Greenspan: Household Finances in Good Shape
Oct 07, 2004  Household Saving Is Important and Likely to Rise Modestly
Oct 06, 2004  Household Saving Is Important and Likely to Rise Modestly
Oct 04, 2004  Changing Retail Landscape
Sep 28, 2004  Redbook Confirms Sluggish Sales
Sep 22, 2004  U.S. Financial Obligations Decline
Sep 22, 2004  NRF Optimistic About Holiday Spending
Sep 13, 2004  Early Holiday Outlook
Sep 02, 2004  Manufacturers and Retailers at Odds Again
Sep 02, 2004  Retail Sales May Have Fallen in August
Sep 02, 2004  Retailers Report Weak Sales
Aug 31, 2004  Redbook Not as Weak as ICSC
Aug 26, 2004  Decline in Real Median Income Ends
Aug 17, 2004  Hurricane Charley May Shift Some Consumer Spending
Aug 16, 2004  Hurricane Charley May Shift Some Consumer Spending
Aug 02, 2004  Are Consumers Done?
Jul 30, 2004  Are Consumers Done?
Jul 30, 2004  Strong Income Growth Reduces Financial Obligations Ratio
Jul 29, 2004  Strong Income Growth Reduces Financial Obligations Ratio
Jul 27, 2004  Redbook, ICSC Surveys Suggest Modest Improvement in July Sales
Jul 27, 2004  Wealthy Winning
Jul 26, 2004  Wal-Mart July Sales Still on Track
Jul 15, 2004  Gasoline Prices and Retail Sales
Jul 14, 2004  The Sales Slowdown Has Arrived
Jun 28, 2004  High Gas Prices Hurt Consumer Confidence
Jun 21, 2004  Wal-Mart Weakens June Sales Forecast
Jun 21, 2004  Furniture Tariffs Relatively Modest
Jun 18, 2004  China Determined to Have Dumped Merchandise Again
Jun 16, 2004  Confidence Signals May Not Be Conflicting
Jun 09, 2004  Home Equity Loan Concerns – Well, for Some
Jun 04, 2004  Differential Impact of Economic Trends
Jun 03, 2004  Spending Bounces Back
Jun 01, 2004  Slowing Spending or a Timing Issue?
May 24, 2004  Household Finances Improve
May 14, 2004  Even Wal-Mart Sees Deflation Ending
May 12, 2004  Preview: Little Retail Sales Growth in April
May 10, 2004  Preview: Little Retail Sales Growth in April
May 10, 2004  Financial Obligations Rise
May 06, 2004  Slowing Chain Store Sales?
May 03, 2004  Retail Sales Boom Again
Apr 19, 2004  Global Business Confidence Continues to Rise
Apr 16, 2004  Confidence Picture Turns Cloudy
Apr 15, 2004  Apparel Price Increase Likely Temporary
Apr 14, 2004  Apparel Price Increase Likely Temporary
Apr 13, 2004  Quota Repeal: Winners, Losers, and Issues
Apr 09, 2004  Consumers Are Spending
Mar 30, 2004  Retail Revision Does Not Alter Outlook
Mar 26, 2004  Confidence Inches Up
Mar 24, 2004  Are Rising Energy Prices a Threat to Spending?
Mar 17, 2004  Consumer Confidence Tumbling
Mar 11, 2004  Special Factors Aside, Sales Growth is Accelerating
Mar 11, 2004  Preview: February Retail Sales
Mar 10, 2004  Preview: February Retail Sales
Mar 08, 2004  Jobs, Please
Mar 05, 2004  Household Wealth At Highest Level Ever
Mar 03, 2004  Lagging Wages
Mar 01, 2004  Income Growth Will Support Spending
Feb 23, 2004  Greenspan: Household Finances in “Good Shape”
Feb 18, 2004  Chain Store Sales – Less Than They Appear
Feb 13, 2004  Is Confidence Down?
Feb 12, 2004  Puzzling Retail Revisions
Feb 09, 2004  Bourgeois Propensities
Feb 05, 2004  Chain Store Sales Growth Accelerates
Feb 05, 2004  Retailers Exceed Expectations
Feb 02, 2004  The Biggest Threat to Spending
Jan 30, 2004  Consumer Spending Still Strong
Jan 26, 2004  2004 Outlook for Consumer Finance
Jan 21, 2004  Spring Spending Surge?
Jan 16, 2004  Household Wealth Continues to Grow
Jan 12, 2004  NRF Projects Stronger Sales in ‘04
Jan 08, 2004  Holiday Sales – Less than Meets the Eye?
Jan 06, 2004  Consumers Spent at Year-end
Dec 23, 2003  Online Sales Strong, but Small
Dec 23, 2003  Healthy Real Spending Growth
Dec 23, 2003  Consumer Data Remains Mixed
Dec 22, 2003  Hightened Security a Small Threat to Retailers
Dec 15, 2003  Cloudy Retail Outlook
Dec 15, 2003  Service and Durable Spending Higher than Thought
Dec 15, 2003  Saving Lowered
Dec 12, 2003  Is Confidence Declining?
Dec 11, 2003  Retail Sales Jump
Dec 11, 2003  Department Store Suffering Continues
Dec 01, 2003  But Consumers Will Spend
Dec 01, 2003  Weak Wage Growth Limits Spending
Nov 17, 2003  Holiday Outlook Remains Strong
Nov 13, 2003  Wal-Mart Sees Cautious Consumers
Nov 13, 2003  New Light on Consumer Debt
Nov 03, 2003  Services Key to Fourth Quarter Spending
Oct 31, 2003  Income Shifts
Oct 23, 2003  New Measures of Debt Burdens
Oct 21, 2003  Consumers’ Concern About the Present Situation Still Grows
Oct 21, 2003  Chain Store Results and Holiday Sales
Oct 16, 2003  Good, but Not 1999 Good
Oct 13, 2003  Some Lift from Rebate Checks Remains
Oct 09, 2003  Retailers Report Stronger Than Expected September Sales
Oct 01, 2003  Retailers May Be a Drag on Labor Market
Sep 29, 2003  Wal-Mart Sales Remain Near the High End of Plan
Sep 23, 2003  Consumer Outlook
Sep 19, 2003  Mourning Our Lost Wealth
Sep 09, 2003  Retailers Are Getting their Houses In Order
Sep 02, 2003  The Mess We're In
Aug 07, 2003  U.S. Tax Cuts Lift Spending
Jul 30, 2003  Low Rates Are Not in Your Interest
Jul 10, 2003  Don't Count on Consumers
Jun 26, 2003  Spending As Never Before
Jun 16, 2003  Too Many T-Shirts
Jun 03, 2003  Not Everything Is on Sale
May 29, 2003  Leading the Horse to Water
May 05, 2003  E-Commerce Lives
Apr 21, 2003  State of the Consumer
Apr 15, 2003  Credit Quality Hits Retailers
Apr 03, 2003  Oh, Give Me Land, Lotsa Land
Mar 31, 2003  Consumers Bend but Don't Break
Mar 11, 2003  As for the Fed
Mar 06, 2003  There Go Wages
Feb 28, 2003  Converging Incomes
Feb 11, 2003  Internet Sales Tax Isn't a Big Deal
Jan 23, 2003  Consumers Aren't Done Yet
Jan 21, 2003  Sale Ends Soon
Jan 10, 2003  Shifting Spending
Dec 17, 2002  'Tis the Season, Regardless of its Length
Dec 10, 2002  Elves Need Not Apply
Nov 14, 2002  No Inventory Building for Retailers
Oct 30, 2002  Boat Dealers Couldn't Care Less
Oct 22, 2002  Old Folks Don't Buy Game Boys
Oct 04, 2002  Retail Worries
Sep 23, 2002  Consumers Are Doing It All For Now
Sep 18, 2002  I'm Dreaming of an Okay Christmas
Aug 23, 2002  All Retailing Is Not Created Equal
Aug 13, 2002  Americans Are Saving More?!
Jul 25, 2002  Boomers Are a Drag
Jul 18, 2002  Discounts, Again
Jun 28, 2002  Lower Taxes Save Consumers
Jun 13, 2002  Wealth Turns the Corner
May 31, 2002  Energy Prices Matter
May 16, 2002  Sears at Rope's End
May 02, 2002  Irrational Retailers, but Rational Lenders
Apr 18, 2002  Where Creditors Fear to Tread
Apr 04, 2002  Debt Burdens Consumers
  

Economic Indicators

  United States