Python function: getFredData()

Specification	Value
Delivery Frequency	continuous, real-time
Data Frequency	varies by series (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual)
Coverage	10M+ economic series from FRED
Source	Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) — `api.stlouisfed.org`
Availability	Free

Product Overview

Overview

FRED Macroeconomic Data provides access to the full Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) database — over 10 million economic time series covering labor markets, inflation, housing, monetary policy, GDP, interest rates, trade, and more. Each query returns observations for a specific FRED series over a date range. Series are identified by their FRED series ID (e.g. CPIAUCSL for CPI, UNRATE for unemployment rate, GDP for gross domestic product).

Data Pipeline

Scalar Field proxies FRED data in real-time from the FRED API. Each query fetches live observations directly — there is no local caching delay. Series discovery is powered by semantic search over FRED metadata, so you can find the right series by describing what you need in natural language.

Querying the Data

Basic Usage

from scalarlib import getFredData

# CPI (Consumer Price Index)
df = getFredData('CPIAUCSL', '2023-01-01', '2023-12-31')

# Unemployment rate
df = getFredData('UNRATE', '2020-01-01', '2026-01-01')

# Federal funds rate
df = getFredData('FEDFUNDS', '2022-01-01', '2026-01-01')

To find the series ID for a concept, ask Scalar Field in chat — for example, “What is the FRED series ID for unemployment rate?” The platform uses semantic search over FRED metadata, so natural language descriptions work well. You can also browse the common series table below.

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`series_id`	str	Yes	FRED series ID (e.g. `"CPIAUCSL"`, `"UNRATE"`, `"GDP"`). Ask in chat to look up, or see the common series table below.
`start`	str	Yes	Start date (`YYYY-MM-DD`). Filters on observation date.
`end`	str	Yes	End date (`YYYY-MM-DD`). Filters on observation date.

Return Schema

Column	Type	Description
`title`	string	Series title (e.g. “Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average”)
`date`	datetime	Observation date
`value`	float	Observation value

Common Series

Series ID	Name	Frequency
`GDP`	Gross Domestic Product	Quarterly
`CPIAUCSL`	Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers)	Monthly
`UNRATE`	Unemployment Rate	Monthly
`FEDFUNDS`	Federal Funds Effective Rate	Monthly
`T10Y2Y`	10-Year Treasury Minus 2-Year Treasury	Daily
`HOUST`	Housing Starts	Monthly
`PAYEMS`	All Employees, Total Nonfarm	Monthly
`PCEPI`	Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index	Monthly
`M2SL`	M2 Money Supply	Monthly
`DEXUSEU`	US Dollar / Euro Exchange Rate	Daily

Getting Started

Trading

Trading Venues

Market Data

Usage & Pricing

FRED Macroeconomic Data

Product Overview

Overview

Data Pipeline

Querying the Data

Basic Usage

Parameters

Return Schema

Common Series

​Product Overview

​Overview

​Data Pipeline

​Querying the Data

​Basic Usage

​Parameters

​Return Schema

​Common Series

Product Overview

Overview

Data Pipeline

Querying the Data

Basic Usage

Parameters

Return Schema

Common Series