{"rid":"data-apis/fred","card":{"rid":"data-apis/fred","eid":"stlouisfed","topic":"data-apis","slug":"fred","provider":"FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis)","url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/","domain":"stlouisfed.org","category":"economic data API (FRED and ALFRED time series, releases, vintages)","tier":null,"verdict":"qualifies","vorder":0,"grp":"usable","self_hosted":0,"confidence":"documented","binding":"request-rate","identity_kind":"email","identity_basis":"stated","needs_card":0,"needs_phone":0,"needs_id":0,"needs_institution":0,"country":null,"crypto":null,"interfaces":"rest","egress_metered":0,"per_object_bytes":null,"retention_days":null,"verified_at":"2026-11-03T00:28:53.390Z","verified_basis":"live","checked_on":"2026-11-03","stale_on":"2026-12-04","n_evidence":22,"usd_month":null,"usd_per_tb_month":null,"summary":"Free API key: no request count per day or month is stated; up to 120 requests per minute before HTTP 429; v1 series observations return up to 100,000 rows pe...","duplicate_of":null,"n_unknown":3,"free_unit":"requests"},"record":{"topic":"data-apis","slug":"fred","provider":"FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis)","url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/","category":"economic data API (FRED and ALFRED time series, releases, vintages)","free_tier":{"stated":"Free API key: no request count per day or month is stated; up to 120 requests per minute before HTTP 429; v1 series observations return up to 100,000 rows per call, and v2 release observations return up to 500,000 observations per call for all series on a release, with a cursor for the rest","unit":"requests","metered_on":"request-count","source_url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/errors.html","read_on":"2026-10-31","notes":"The API is offered free; no paid plan is named. Not complying with the 120 per minute throttle can bring a temporary block. The terms reserve the right to set a bandwidth or transaction ceiling at any time. A single series also downloads as CSV with no key from fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/fredgraph.csv?id=SERIES (GDP answered HTTP 200, 6419 bytes)."},"per_object_cap":{"stated":"100,000 observations per v1 series/observations call; 500,000 observations per v2 release/observations call","bytes":null,"source_url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/v2/release_observations.html","notes":""},"retention":{"stated":"not applicable","days":null,"notes":""},"egress":{"terms":"not metered in bytes; the 120 requests per minute bound what a key can pull","metered":false,"free_allowance":null,"price_per_tb":null,"source_url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/errors.html"},"interface":["rest"],"interface_detail":"v1: GET https://api.stlouisfed.org/fred/... with api_key (a 32-character lower-case key) as a query parameter, JSON or XML. v2: GET https://api.stlouisfed.org/fred/v2/release/observations with the key in an Authorization: Bearer header and next_cursor paging. A call with no key answered HTTP 400.","endpoint":"https://api.stlouisfed.org/fred","tooling":"curl or any HTTP client; fredgraph.csv serves one series as CSV with no key","chaining":"Whole economic releases in one paged v2 pull at no cost; it pairs with a market source such as Tiingo or CoinGecko when macro series sit beside prices.","limits":[{"kind":"request-rate","value":"120 requests per minute, then HTTP 429 and possibly a temporary block","source":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/errors.html"},{"kind":"per-object-cap","value":"500,000 observations per v2 release/observations call, cursor paging for the rest","source":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/v2/release_observations.html"},{"kind":"per-object-cap","value":"100,000 observations per v1 series/observations call","source":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/series_observations.html"}],"limits_note":"Bulk path: API v2 fred/v2/release/observations returns every series on a release with its entire history, 500,000 observations a call with next_cursor paging; one series is also a keyless CSV at fredgraph.csv.","binding":"request-rate","binding_note":"No daily or monthly count is published, so the 120 per minute throttle is the only stated ceiling; v2 release pulls of 500,000 observations a call keep it far away.","identity_cost":{"kind":"email","detail":"Every API request needs a key, and a key is requested from a fredaccount.stlouisfed.org account. The account asks only for a valid email address and a password, and is active as soon as the form is submitted; no card, no phone. The keyless fredgraph.csv download and the website need no account.","country":null},"reliability_note":"Past 120 requests a minute the API answers HTTP 429, and ignoring the throttle can bring a temporary block; an error answer is an HTTP status with an XML or JSON body that carries the error.","confidence":"documented","confidence_note":"The rate, the row caps and the account fields are documented on the FRED API and help pages. Probes measured that a keyless API call answers HTTP 400 and that fredgraph.csv serves GDP as CSV with no key. The 429 message text, any reset moment and the length of a temporary block need a key to measure (unverified: behind a sign-up).","evidence":[{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/errors.html","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"up to 120 requests per minute are allowed before HTTP 429, and ignoring the throttle can bring a temporary block","capture":"sha256:a913528b88b24c286d01e03d06236796dd70da9b582e293534eeebbf96400a54","quote":"429 Too Many Requests (Up to 120 requests per minute are allowed before being served a 429 error code. Not complying with the throttling can result in a temporary block.)"},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/api_key.html","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"every request needs an API key","capture":"sha256:4548b785ab6a4a4a15bf62bf865d0f9a2ca4d3d7703db4681a8625618e4c064b","quote":"All web service requests require an API key to identify requests."},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/terms_of_use.html","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"API use needs a registered key","capture":"sha256:9862c1410ba1e74e25a1f5710cb0e64a461ca797db722c511b34a70c8d88de63","quote":"In order to use the FRED® API, you must have register for an API Key."},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"the FRED API is offered free","capture":"sha256:0dbe8b49a93477a64d8ed8a3e9e9f319d706386bae93a7274fb71bfd9d5f56de","quote":null},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/api_key.html","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"the v1 key is a 32-character lower-case string passed as api_key","capture":"sha256:4548b785ab6a4a4a15bf62bf865d0f9a2ca4d3d7703db4681a8625618e4c064b","quote":"The API key is set using the api\\_key variable, a 32 character lower-cased alpha-numeric string."},{"url":"https://fredhelp.stlouisfed.org/fred/account/fred-account-features/register/","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"the account asks only for an email address and a password","capture":"sha256:3b211191e6e5c6eb702d4c49a546e794b4656e7b3af4dd54db9d2c9c0d41f28a","quote":"For a user account, we require only a valid email address and password of your choice."},{"url":"https://fredhelp.stlouisfed.org/fred/account/fred-account-features/register/","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"the account is active as soon as the form is submitted","capture":"sha256:3b211191e6e5c6eb702d4c49a546e794b4656e7b3af4dd54db9d2c9c0d41f28a","quote":"Your account will be activated immediately after submitting the form."},{"url":"https://fredaccount.stlouisfed.org/login/secure/","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"the website shows data with no account","capture":"sha256:849e6f1e27abac0693224cca61bed8ef17bc43bcd395e5cb083a89c6edcaad9f","quote":"A user account is not needed to view data on [FRED](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/) website."},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/v2/index.html","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"API v2 retrieves all series on a release in bulk with the entire history","capture":"sha256:41ee1db2423fbe762f0eb60b91b8ea9e77e4571959a66da05a7821287d2aca85","quote":"The FRED® API, Version 2 is ideal for anyone who is interested to retrieve observations for all series on a release in bulk and obtain the entire history."},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/v2/release_observations.html","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"the v2 endpoint returns the observations of every series on a release","capture":"sha256:f519b3aafb8bc3ffabcca236b26a31fe27cb714aaa53b3f4a05616627ef70205","quote":"Get the observations for all series on a release of economic data."},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/v2/release_observations.html","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"a v2 call returns up to 500,000 observations","capture":"sha256:f519b3aafb8bc3ffabcca236b26a31fe27cb714aaa53b3f4a05616627ef70205","quote":"- integer between 1 and 500000, optional, default: 500000"},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/v2/api_key.html","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"v2 takes the key in a request header","capture":"sha256:76dfaacc019109cb2bae75a08cf3b5fa92883b820d16ef09a622435611899a05","quote":"An API key must be specified in the request header in the following way:"},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/series_observations.html","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"a v1 series/observations call returns up to 100,000 rows","capture":"sha256:4b19fa58c81cb87985a8f5402ea041a573fa110502969b1b0f72b915aa7ee89f","quote":"- integer between 1 and 100000, optional, default: 100000"},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/","date":"2026-10-31","proved":null,"capture":"sha256:0dbe8b49a93477a64d8ed8a3e9e9f319d706386bae93a7274fb71bfd9d5f56de","quote":"- View, download, and print FRED content"},{"url":"probe:https://api.stlouisfed.org/fred/series/observations?series_id=GDP&file_type=json","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"an API call with no key answered HTTP 400","capture":"sha256:27a7fa7677d85ac9c8186b256d1be9536b341a2ee9a49d9c5ab9e7e1e34e88a5","quote":"\"status\": 400"},{"url":"probe:https://api.stlouisfed.org/fred/series/observations?series_id=GDP&file_type=json","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"the API refuses a call that carries no api_key","capture":"sha256:da3c632f9a98b4c8f641de2b0763d513b4642316fe56d52d883002e011a892ff","quote":"Variable api_key is not set."},{"url":"probe:https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/fredgraph.csv?id=GDP","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"fredgraph.csv answered HTTP 200 with no key","capture":"sha256:82f459e71f9b9d34ff6f57fa64db27f21f5063b6693955cf4d95a5b586d77f5c","quote":"\"status\": 200"},{"url":"probe:https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/fredgraph.csv?id=GDP","date":"2026-10-31","proved":"the keyless CSV carries the GDP series with its dates","capture":"sha256:209e45690e4a85a6e99578c0a2ad6f1860875f61824dd2f67f9cba25386abd9e","quote":"observation_date,GDP"},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/errors.html","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"429 past 120 requests a minute, with a possible temporary block","capture":"sha256:ff59aa7539e23db095b5b6ac60f1507ac03e382773359dafd70d3cc16f048c2f","quote":"429 Too Many Requests (Up to 120 requests per minute are allowed before being served a 429 error code. Not complying with the throttling can result in a temporary block.)"},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/errors.html","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"an error answer is an HTTP status with an XML or JSON body","capture":"sha256:ff59aa7539e23db095b5b6ac60f1507ac03e382773359dafd70d3cc16f048c2f","quote":"If an error occurs, the web service will return an HTTP response with the error status code and an XML or JSON body containing the error."},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/errors.html","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the 120 per minute throttle is documented","capture":"sha256:ff59aa7539e23db095b5b6ac60f1507ac03e382773359dafd70d3cc16f048c2f","quote":"429 Too Many Requests (Up to 120 requests per minute are allowed before being served a 429 error code. Not complying with the throttling can result in a temporary block.)"},{"url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/errors.html","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the 120 per minute throttle is unchanged","capture":"sha256:ff59aa7539e23db095b5b6ac60f1507ac03e382773359dafd70d3cc16f048c2f","quote":"429 Too Many Requests (Up to 120 requests per minute are allowed before being served a 429 error code. Not complying with the throttling can result in a temporary block.)"}],"verdict":"qualifies","verified_at":"2026-11-03T00:28:53.390Z","notes":"Free with an email-only key, no stated daily or monthly count, and a documented bulk path (v2 release observations). The series notes name them.","extras":{"bulk_path":"API v2 fred/v2/release/observations: all series on a release with full history, 500,000 observations per call, cursor paging","keyless_path":"fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/fredgraph.csv?id=SERIES returns one series as CSV with no key"}},"claims":[{"path":"$.free_tier","kind":"has-free-tier","num":1,"unit":null,"per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.free_tier.stated","kind":"free-quota","num":120,"unit":"requests","per":"minute","currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.limits[0].value","kind":"limit:request-rate","num":120,"unit":"requests","per":"minute","currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.limits[1].value","kind":"limit:per-object-cap","num":null,"unit":null,"per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"unparsed"},{"path":"$.limits[2].value","kind":"limit:per-object-cap","num":null,"unit":null,"per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"unparsed"}],"unknown":[["$.evidence[13].proved","withheld"],["$.evidence[3].quote","withheld"],["$.retention.stated","not-applicable"]],"history":[],"drift":[]}