Imagine having access to over 800,000 economic time series of data from reliable U.S. and international sources—free of charge. That’s exactly what you can derive from the FRED database. Whether you’re an economist, policymaker, investor, or someone interested in learning more about inflation or interest rate movement, the FRED database is a goldmine. So what is FRED, and how do you even make it work for you?
In this tutorial, we will discuss what places FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) among the most prestigious and comprehensive economic data portals in the world. We will show how to utilize it, what data to search for, and why it is useful for decision-making, research, and public awareness.
What Is the FRED Database?
FRED, or Federal Reserve Economic Data, is a free on-line database run by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis since 1991. This is the most-visited website for any United States and foreign economic indicator since its inception way back in 1991.
As of 2025, FRED contains over 826,000 time series from 117 data providers including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), World Bank, IMF, OECD, and many more (FRED sources).
What Kind of Data Is Available in FRED?
FRED covers a massive spectrum of economic metrics. Just a few examples include:
- Inflation data (e.g., Consumer Price Index)
- Employment statistics (e.g., Unemployment rate, job openings)
- GDP and national accounts
- Federal funds rate and interest rates
- Housing market indicators
- Exchange rates
- Corporate bond yields
Each data set is also available as a time series, which can be viewed, downloaded, or embedded directly from the site. For example, if you want to analyze U.S. GDP growth post-COVID, you can compare BEA side-by-side quarterly GDP with BLS unemployment rates.
How to Search the FRED Database
Searching FRED is straightforward, but powerful. You can simply use keywords like “inflation,” “mortgage rates,” or “California unemployment” in the search bar. But what makes FRED especially useful is how you can filter your results:
Filter Options:
- Concepts: such as finance, housing, or corporate sector
- Geography Types: e.g., nation, state, county
- Geographies: e.g., United States, Texas, New York City
- Frequencies: e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually
- Sources and Releases: filter by original data publishers
- Seasonal Adjustments: choose between raw and seasonally adjusted data
This granularity is ideal for targeted research. For example, a user analyzing labor market trends in Texas can select:
- Concept: Employment
- Geography: Texas
- Frequency: Monthly
Features That Make FRED Stand Out
FRED isn’t just a data warehouse. It’s a versatile analytical tool. Here are some reasons why it’s trusted by professionals and researchers alike:
Interactive Graphs
Users can generate charts, compare datasets, and even transform data (e.g., percentage change, year-over-year growth).
Data Export and API
You can export data to Excel, CSV, or use the FRED API to integrate with software like Python, R, or Tableau for deeper analysis.
Citation Tools
Each dataset comes with suggested citations, release information, units of measure, and notes—ideal for academic and policy work.
Real-World Use Cases
1. Investment Analysis
Portfolio managers regularly track the yield curve using FRED’s Treasury yield data to assess recession risks.
2. Academic Research
Economics students use FRED to download CPI and unemployment data for regression analysis.
3. Policy Decision-Making
State and federal agencies use FRED data to support decisions on minimum wage, housing subsidies, and stimulus policies.
4. Media and Journalism
Reporters frequently cite FRED graphs when illustrating stories on inflation, interest rates, or job growth.
FAQ About FRED
Is FRED data free?
Yes, all data on FRED is publicly accessible and free to use. There are no subscription fees, and even the API is open to developers.
What is the purpose of FRED?
FRED aims to democratize access to high-quality economic data. It enables better public understanding, academic research, and professional decision-making using verified datasets.
How to use the FRED database?
- Go to fred.stlouisfed.org
- Enter a keyword or topic in the search bar
- Use filters to narrow down data by geography, frequency, and source
- View the time series graph and customize it
- Download, embed, or cite the dataset as needed
Final Thoughts
The FRED database is one of the most accurate, easy-to-use, and thorough economic data platforms available today. If you work with economic, financial, or policy data—whether in the United States or globally—it’s absolutely worth exploring. And if you’re tired of paywalled datasets, inconsistent reporting, or cluttered government dashboards, FRED is a refreshing, reliable alternative. For example, when researching housing affordability metrics or income benchmarks, it pairs well with other tools like the Fannie Mae AMI Lookup Tool to give you a fuller picture. It’s also useful when tracking retirement-related economic indicators or supplementing research on how to find your old 401(k) and understand its value over time.
Start exploring today at fred.stlouisfed.org.
Sources
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. FRED Main Site
- FRED Data Series Tags
- FRED Sources
