How to Use the BLS Public Data API MCP in Windsurf

Q: How do I set up the BLS Public Data API MCP Server in Windsurf?

Open your /.codeium/windsurf/mcpconfig.json file and add the server configuration under the mcpServers key. Alternatively, use the Windsurf UI by going to Settings, then Cascade, and adding the server URL there. Once added, click Refresh in the MCP panel so Cascade can discover the tools.

Pull live inflation and employment trends directly into your Windsurf workspace for autonomous economic analysis.

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Connect BLS Public Data API MCP to Windsurf

Create your Vinkius account to connect BLS Public Data API to Windsurf and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup BLS Public Data API with Windsurf

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Pull BLS timeseries data directly into Windsurf

The `get_bls_timeseries_data` tool fetches historical labor statistics and economic series directly into your editor using raw series IDs. You don't need to write custom API clients or download CSV files manually anymore. Cascade takes your prompt, grabs the exact series IDs you need, and drops the raw numbers straight into your workspace. This means you can ask Cascade to analyze inflation trends or employment spikes using this MCP server, and it will pull the numbers, write the Python script to chart them, and display the result. It handles the entire chain of actions in one go.

Verify BLS API health before running complex jobs

The `check_api_status` tool checks if the BLS Public Data service is running and ready for requests. If the government servers are down or rate-limited, this tool alerts your agent immediately. Cascade uses this status check to prevent broken runs when you ask for massive historical datasets. It verifies the endpoint first, saving you from waiting on timeout errors during complex multi-step analysis tasks.

Build predictive models using this MCP Server

The `get_bls_timeseries_data` tool feeds raw economic metrics directly to Cascade for real-time model building. Instead of guessing, your agent pulls actual CPI or unemployment data to feed your local statistical models. You set the target metric, and Cascade chains the data retrieval, cleans the null values, and writes the regression code. It turns raw government endpoints into clean datasets without you writing a single line of boilerplate.

Setup guide

Set up BLS Public Data API MCP in Windsurf

Prerequisites

Windsurf IDE installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Click the Cascade assistant icon in the sidebar, then click the hammer icon (🔨) at the top of the panel. Select "Configure" to open ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.
2

Add the BLS Public Data API MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Refresh MCPs

Go back to the hammer icon (🔨) in Cascade and click "Refresh". Windsurf will detect the new server. No full restart is needed — the connection is hot-reloaded.
4

Verify in Cascade

Start a new Cascade conversation and ask something like "Show my BLS Public Data API payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the BLS Public Data API tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.

mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bls-public-data-api-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by BLS. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about BLS Public Data API MCP in Windsurf

Open your `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json` file and add the server configuration under the `mcpServers` key. Alternatively, use the Windsurf UI by going to Settings, then Cascade, and adding the server URL there. Once added, click Refresh in the MCP panel so Cascade can discover the tools.

Yes, Cascade excels at this. You can tell it to pull data using `get_bls_timeseries_data` and then immediately write a local script to clean and graph those specific numbers. It executes the API call and the local file creation in a single, continuous workflow.

The BLS API has strict daily request limits. Windsurf uses the status check tool to see if the service is responding before making heavy calls. If you hit a limit, Cascade reads the error response and suggests caching options or tells you to wait.

No, you can run basic queries without a key. If you have a registered BLS developer key for higher limits, you can configure Vinkius to pass it along when initializing this MCP connection.

This server only transmits the public series IDs you request and the resulting labor statistics. Your local code and workspace context stay inside Windsurf. Vinkius runs the server in an isolated sandbox, meaning your private queries never leak to the public web.

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