• IDENTIFY
  • EXTRACT
  • FORMAT
  • REVIEW

How to identify BLS series IDs with your AI

Connect the BLS Public Data API to your AI client once. From there, your agent handles the heavy lifting of hunting down specific economic identifiers.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How do I find the right BLS series ID for my data?

Tell your AI which economic indicator you need, such as the Consumer Price Index. It will use the API to locate the exact series ID and pull the corresponding time series data for you. You'll get the precise identifiers needed for your analysis.

The results you get.

What your AI delivers.

The process moves from a vague request to structured economic data.

IDENTIFY

Correct series IDs

The AI scans the BLS database to match your description to a specific identifier. You get the exact code needed for deep queries.

EXTRACT

Raw time series data

Once the ID is found, the AI pulls the actual numbers. You receive the historical values for the marker you requested.

FORMAT

Ready-to-use data

The agent organizes the retrieved values into a readable format. This makes it easy to move the data into a spreadsheet or report.

REVIEW

Human verification

You check the series ID and the data points to ensure they match your specific research requirements before proceeding.

The workflow

What your AI does when you ask for economic data.

The AI acts as the bridge between your natural language questions and the BLS database.

  1. Match descriptions to IDs

    Your agent interprets your request for an indicator like 'unemployment rate' and finds the matching BLS series identifier.

    get_bls_timeseries_data

  2. Fetch historical values

    The AI uses the identified series ID to request specific time periods of data from the API.

    get_bls_timeseries_data

  3. Validate the request

    The agent checks that the requested series exists and that the time range is valid for that specific marker.

    get_bls_timeseries_data

  4. Present findings

    The AI delivers the requested data points and the series ID used to get them.

    get_bls_timeseries_data

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to kick off your research.

Starting points

Swap out the economic indicators for whatever you are researching, like CPI or wage growth.

BLS Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_47awxtKfX9CEteo5y3jUQDLTbO4ppm7vv5ysYpcO/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — BLS capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bls-public-data-api-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_47awxtKfX9CEteo5y3jUQDLTbO4ppm7vv5ysYpcO/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Find the BLS series ID for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and show me the latest monthly data.

  • I need the series ID for seasonally adjusted unemployment rates to pull the last two years of data.

  • What is the series ID for employment change in the retail sector, and can you get the values for 2023?

  • Search for the series ID related to producer price indices and retrieve the quarterly values.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect BLS Public Data API once, then ask.

One connection gives your AI access to the entire BLS dataset. Your credentials stay encrypted and secure on our end.

Connect BLS Public Data API to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves.

  • 01

    Can the AI create new economic indicators?

    No. The AI can only find and retrieve existing identifiers and data from the BLS database.

  • 02

    Does the AI change any data in the BLS system?

    No. The tool is read-only. It can only fetch data, never modify or delete anything in the BLS records.

  • 03

    Can I ask for data that isn't in the BLS database?

    No. The AI is limited to the specific series and data points provided by the BLS Public Data API.

  • 04

    Will the AI automatically put this data into my Excel file?

    No. The AI retrieves the data and presents it to you. You must then move that data into your files yourself.

  • 05

    How does the AI know which series ID to use?

    The AI uses the information you provide in your prompt to search for the most relevant identifier in the BLS system.

  • More questions about BLS Public Data API? The Connector page answers them. See everything the BLS Public Data API Connector can do

Connect BLS to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more