Multi-series macro panels: fetch, transform, widen, plot

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Charles Coverdale

09 September 2026

This vignette walks through the most common starting workflow with fred: fetching several series in one call, applying a server-side transformation, pivoting to wide format for cross-series analysis, and producing a default plot with recession shading.

The chunks below require an API key (set via fred_set_key() or the FRED_API_KEY environment variable). If no key is set, code is shown but not executed.

Setup

library(fred)

A core macro panel

A typical first move is to grab GDP, unemployment, and headline CPI together, on a long format that is easy to iterate over.

panel <- fred_series(
  c("GDPC1", "UNRATE", "CPIAUCSL"),
  from = "2000-01-01"
)
panel
#> # FRED: 3 series · 745 obs
#>           date series_id     value
#> 1   2000-01-01     GDPC1 13878.147
#> 2   2000-04-01     GDPC1 14130.908
#> 3   2000-07-01     GDPC1 14145.312
#> 4   2000-10-01     GDPC1 14229.765
#> 5   2001-01-01     GDPC1 14183.120
#> 6   2001-04-01     GDPC1 14271.694
#> 7   2001-07-01     GDPC1 14214.516
#> 8   2001-10-01     GDPC1 14253.574
#> 9   2002-01-01     GDPC1 14372.785
#> 10  2002-04-01     GDPC1 14460.848
#> 11  2002-07-01     GDPC1 14519.633
#> 12  2002-10-01     GDPC1 14537.580
#> 13  2003-01-01     GDPC1 14614.141
#> 14  2003-04-01     GDPC1 14743.567
#> 15  2003-07-01     GDPC1 14988.782
#> 16  2003-10-01     GDPC1 15162.760
#> 17  2004-01-01     GDPC1 15248.680
#> 18  2004-04-01     GDPC1 15366.850
#> 19  2004-07-01     GDPC1 15512.619
#> 20  2004-10-01     GDPC1 15670.880
#> 21  2005-01-01     GDPC1 15844.727
#> 22  2005-04-01     GDPC1 15922.782
#> 23  2005-07-01     GDPC1 16047.587
#> 24  2005-10-01     GDPC1 16136.734
#> 25  2006-01-01     GDPC1 16353.835
#> 26  2006-04-01     GDPC1 16396.151
#> 27  2006-07-01     GDPC1 16420.738
#> 28  2006-10-01     GDPC1 16561.866
#> 29  2007-01-01     GDPC1 16611.690
#> 30  2007-04-01     GDPC1 16713.314
#> 31  2007-07-01     GDPC1 16809.587
#> 32  2007-10-01     GDPC1 16915.191
#> 33  2008-01-01     GDPC1 16843.003
#> 34  2008-04-01     GDPC1 16943.291
#> 35  2008-07-01     GDPC1 16854.295
#> 36  2008-10-01     GDPC1 16485.350
#> 37  2009-01-01     GDPC1 16298.262
#> 38  2009-04-01     GDPC1 16269.145
#> 39  2009-07-01     GDPC1 16326.281
#> 40  2009-10-01     GDPC1 16502.754
#> 41  2010-01-01     GDPC1 16582.710
#> 42  2010-04-01     GDPC1 16743.162
#> 43  2010-07-01     GDPC1 16872.266
#> 44  2010-10-01     GDPC1 16960.864
#> 45  2011-01-01     GDPC1 16920.632
#> 46  2011-04-01     GDPC1 17035.114
#> 47  2011-07-01     GDPC1 17031.313
#> 48  2011-10-01     GDPC1 17222.583
#> 49  2012-01-01     GDPC1 17367.010
#> 50  2012-04-01     GDPC1 17444.525
#> 51  2012-07-01     GDPC1 17469.650
#> 52  2012-10-01     GDPC1 17489.852
#> 53  2013-01-01     GDPC1 17662.400
#> 54  2013-04-01     GDPC1 17709.671
#> 55  2013-07-01     GDPC1 17860.450
#> 56  2013-10-01     GDPC1 18016.147
#> 57  2014-01-01     GDPC1 17953.974
#> 58  2014-04-01     GDPC1 18185.911
#> 59  2014-07-01     GDPC1 18406.941
#> 60  2014-10-01     GDPC1 18500.031
#> 61  2015-01-01     GDPC1 18666.621
#> 62  2015-04-01     GDPC1 18782.243
#> 63  2015-07-01     GDPC1 18857.418
#> 64  2015-10-01     GDPC1 18892.206
#> 65  2016-01-01     GDPC1 19001.690
#> 66  2016-04-01     GDPC1 19062.709
#> 67  2016-07-01     GDPC1 19197.938
#> 68  2016-10-01     GDPC1 19304.352
#> 69  2017-01-01     GDPC1 19398.343
#> 70  2017-04-01     GDPC1 19506.949
#> 71  2017-07-01     GDPC1 19660.766
#> 72  2017-10-01     GDPC1 19882.352
#> 73  2018-01-01     GDPC1 20044.077
#> 74  2018-04-01     GDPC1 20150.476
#> 75  2018-07-01     GDPC1 20276.154
#> 76  2018-10-01     GDPC1 20304.874
#> 77  2019-01-01     GDPC1 20431.641
#> 78  2019-04-01     GDPC1 20602.275
#> 79  2019-07-01     GDPC1 20843.322
#> 80  2019-10-01     GDPC1 20985.448
#> 81  2020-01-01     GDPC1 20709.212
#> 82  2020-04-01     GDPC1 19077.992
#> 83  2020-07-01     GDPC1 20558.879
#> 84  2020-10-01     GDPC1 20791.917
#> 85  2021-01-01     GDPC1 21082.134
#> 86  2021-04-01     GDPC1 21440.929
#> 87  2021-07-01     GDPC1 21617.828
#> 88  2021-10-01     GDPC1 21988.737
#> 89  2022-01-01     GDPC1 21932.710
#> 90  2022-04-01     GDPC1 21967.045
#> 91  2022-07-01     GDPC1 22125.625
#> 92  2022-10-01     GDPC1 22278.345
#> 93  2023-01-01     GDPC1 22439.607
#> 94  2023-04-01     GDPC1 22580.499
#> 95  2023-07-01     GDPC1 22840.989
#> 96  2023-10-01     GDPC1 23033.780
#> 97  2024-01-01     GDPC1 23082.119
#> 98  2024-04-01     GDPC1 23286.508
#> 99  2024-07-01     GDPC1 23478.570
#> 100 2024-10-01     GDPC1 23586.542
#> 101 2025-01-01     GDPC1 23548.210
#> 102 2025-04-01     GDPC1 23770.976
#> 103 2025-07-01     GDPC1 24026.834
#> 104 2025-10-01     GDPC1 24055.749
#> 105 2026-01-01     GDPC1 24180.419
#> 106 2026-04-01     GDPC1 24269.613
#> 107 2000-01-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 108 2000-02-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 109 2000-03-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 110 2000-04-01    UNRATE     3.800
#> 111 2000-05-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 112 2000-06-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 113 2000-07-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 114 2000-08-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 115 2000-09-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 116 2000-10-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 117 2000-11-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 118 2000-12-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 119 2001-01-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 120 2001-02-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 121 2001-03-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 122 2001-04-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 123 2001-05-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 124 2001-06-01    UNRATE     4.500
#> 125 2001-07-01    UNRATE     4.600
#> 126 2001-08-01    UNRATE     4.900
#> 127 2001-09-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 128 2001-10-01    UNRATE     5.300
#> 129 2001-11-01    UNRATE     5.500
#> 130 2001-12-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 131 2002-01-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 132 2002-02-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 133 2002-03-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 134 2002-04-01    UNRATE     5.900
#> 135 2002-05-01    UNRATE     5.800
#> 136 2002-06-01    UNRATE     5.800
#> 137 2002-07-01    UNRATE     5.800
#> 138 2002-08-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 139 2002-09-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 140 2002-10-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 141 2002-11-01    UNRATE     5.900
#> 142 2002-12-01    UNRATE     6.000
#> 143 2003-01-01    UNRATE     5.800
#> 144 2003-02-01    UNRATE     5.900
#> 145 2003-03-01    UNRATE     5.900
#> 146 2003-04-01    UNRATE     6.000
#> 147 2003-05-01    UNRATE     6.100
#> 148 2003-06-01    UNRATE     6.300
#> 149 2003-07-01    UNRATE     6.200
#> 150 2003-08-01    UNRATE     6.100
#> 151 2003-09-01    UNRATE     6.100
#> 152 2003-10-01    UNRATE     6.000
#> 153 2003-11-01    UNRATE     5.800
#> 154 2003-12-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 155 2004-01-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 156 2004-02-01    UNRATE     5.600
#> 157 2004-03-01    UNRATE     5.800
#> 158 2004-04-01    UNRATE     5.600
#> 159 2004-05-01    UNRATE     5.600
#> 160 2004-06-01    UNRATE     5.600
#> 161 2004-07-01    UNRATE     5.500
#> 162 2004-08-01    UNRATE     5.400
#> 163 2004-09-01    UNRATE     5.400
#> 164 2004-10-01    UNRATE     5.500
#> 165 2004-11-01    UNRATE     5.400
#> 166 2004-12-01    UNRATE     5.400
#> 167 2005-01-01    UNRATE     5.300
#> 168 2005-02-01    UNRATE     5.400
#> 169 2005-03-01    UNRATE     5.200
#> 170 2005-04-01    UNRATE     5.200
#> 171 2005-05-01    UNRATE     5.100
#> 172 2005-06-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 173 2005-07-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 174 2005-08-01    UNRATE     4.900
#> 175 2005-09-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 176 2005-10-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 177 2005-11-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 178 2005-12-01    UNRATE     4.900
#> 179 2006-01-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 180 2006-02-01    UNRATE     4.800
#> 181 2006-03-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 182 2006-04-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 183 2006-05-01    UNRATE     4.600
#> 184 2006-06-01    UNRATE     4.600
#> 185 2006-07-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 186 2006-08-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 187 2006-09-01    UNRATE     4.500
#> 188 2006-10-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 189 2006-11-01    UNRATE     4.500
#> 190 2006-12-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 191 2007-01-01    UNRATE     4.600
#> 192 2007-02-01    UNRATE     4.500
#> 193 2007-03-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 194 2007-04-01    UNRATE     4.500
#> 195 2007-05-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 196 2007-06-01    UNRATE     4.600
#> 197 2007-07-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 198 2007-08-01    UNRATE     4.600
#> 199 2007-09-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 200 2007-10-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 201 2007-11-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 202 2007-12-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 203 2008-01-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 204 2008-02-01    UNRATE     4.900
#> 205 2008-03-01    UNRATE     5.100
#> 206 2008-04-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 207 2008-05-01    UNRATE     5.400
#> 208 2008-06-01    UNRATE     5.600
#> 209 2008-07-01    UNRATE     5.800
#> 210 2008-08-01    UNRATE     6.100
#> 211 2008-09-01    UNRATE     6.100
#> 212 2008-10-01    UNRATE     6.500
#> 213 2008-11-01    UNRATE     6.800
#> 214 2008-12-01    UNRATE     7.300
#> 215 2009-01-01    UNRATE     7.800
#> 216 2009-02-01    UNRATE     8.300
#> 217 2009-03-01    UNRATE     8.700
#> 218 2009-04-01    UNRATE     9.000
#> 219 2009-05-01    UNRATE     9.400
#> 220 2009-06-01    UNRATE     9.500
#> 221 2009-07-01    UNRATE     9.500
#> 222 2009-08-01    UNRATE     9.600
#> 223 2009-09-01    UNRATE     9.800
#> 224 2009-10-01    UNRATE    10.000
#> 225 2009-11-01    UNRATE     9.900
#> 226 2009-12-01    UNRATE     9.900
#> 227 2010-01-01    UNRATE     9.800
#> 228 2010-02-01    UNRATE     9.800
#> 229 2010-03-01    UNRATE     9.900
#> 230 2010-04-01    UNRATE     9.900
#> 231 2010-05-01    UNRATE     9.600
#> 232 2010-06-01    UNRATE     9.400
#> 233 2010-07-01    UNRATE     9.400
#> 234 2010-08-01    UNRATE     9.500
#> 235 2010-09-01    UNRATE     9.500
#> 236 2010-10-01    UNRATE     9.400
#> 237 2010-11-01    UNRATE     9.800
#> 238 2010-12-01    UNRATE     9.300
#> 239 2011-01-01    UNRATE     9.100
#> 240 2011-02-01    UNRATE     9.000
#> 241 2011-03-01    UNRATE     9.000
#> 242 2011-04-01    UNRATE     9.100
#> 243 2011-05-01    UNRATE     9.000
#> 244 2011-06-01    UNRATE     9.100
#> 245 2011-07-01    UNRATE     9.000
#> 246 2011-08-01    UNRATE     9.000
#> 247 2011-09-01    UNRATE     9.000
#> 248 2011-10-01    UNRATE     8.800
#> 249 2011-11-01    UNRATE     8.600
#> 250 2011-12-01    UNRATE     8.500
#> 251 2012-01-01    UNRATE     8.300
#> 252 2012-02-01    UNRATE     8.300
#> 253 2012-03-01    UNRATE     8.200
#> 254 2012-04-01    UNRATE     8.200
#> 255 2012-05-01    UNRATE     8.200
#> 256 2012-06-01    UNRATE     8.200
#> 257 2012-07-01    UNRATE     8.200
#> 258 2012-08-01    UNRATE     8.100
#> 259 2012-09-01    UNRATE     7.800
#> 260 2012-10-01    UNRATE     7.800
#> 261 2012-11-01    UNRATE     7.700
#> 262 2012-12-01    UNRATE     7.900
#> 263 2013-01-01    UNRATE     8.000
#> 264 2013-02-01    UNRATE     7.700
#> 265 2013-03-01    UNRATE     7.500
#> 266 2013-04-01    UNRATE     7.600
#> 267 2013-05-01    UNRATE     7.500
#> 268 2013-06-01    UNRATE     7.500
#> 269 2013-07-01    UNRATE     7.300
#> 270 2013-08-01    UNRATE     7.200
#> 271 2013-09-01    UNRATE     7.200
#> 272 2013-10-01    UNRATE     7.200
#> 273 2013-11-01    UNRATE     6.900
#> 274 2013-12-01    UNRATE     6.700
#> 275 2014-01-01    UNRATE     6.600
#> 276 2014-02-01    UNRATE     6.700
#> 277 2014-03-01    UNRATE     6.700
#> 278 2014-04-01    UNRATE     6.200
#> 279 2014-05-01    UNRATE     6.300
#> 280 2014-06-01    UNRATE     6.100
#> 281 2014-07-01    UNRATE     6.200
#> 282 2014-08-01    UNRATE     6.100
#> 283 2014-09-01    UNRATE     5.900
#> 284 2014-10-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 285 2014-11-01    UNRATE     5.800
#> 286 2014-12-01    UNRATE     5.600
#> 287 2015-01-01    UNRATE     5.700
#> 288 2015-02-01    UNRATE     5.500
#> 289 2015-03-01    UNRATE     5.400
#> 290 2015-04-01    UNRATE     5.400
#> 291 2015-05-01    UNRATE     5.600
#> 292 2015-06-01    UNRATE     5.300
#> 293 2015-07-01    UNRATE     5.200
#> 294 2015-08-01    UNRATE     5.100
#> 295 2015-09-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 296 2015-10-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 297 2015-11-01    UNRATE     5.100
#> 298 2015-12-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 299 2016-01-01    UNRATE     4.800
#> 300 2016-02-01    UNRATE     4.900
#> 301 2016-03-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 302 2016-04-01    UNRATE     5.100
#> 303 2016-05-01    UNRATE     4.800
#> 304 2016-06-01    UNRATE     4.900
#> 305 2016-07-01    UNRATE     4.800
#> 306 2016-08-01    UNRATE     4.900
#> 307 2016-09-01    UNRATE     5.000
#> 308 2016-10-01    UNRATE     4.900
#> 309 2016-11-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 310 2016-12-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 311 2017-01-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 312 2017-02-01    UNRATE     4.600
#> 313 2017-03-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 314 2017-04-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 315 2017-05-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 316 2017-06-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 317 2017-07-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 318 2017-08-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 319 2017-09-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 320 2017-10-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 321 2017-11-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 322 2017-12-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 323 2018-01-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 324 2018-02-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 325 2018-03-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 326 2018-04-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 327 2018-05-01    UNRATE     3.800
#> 328 2018-06-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 329 2018-07-01    UNRATE     3.800
#> 330 2018-08-01    UNRATE     3.800
#> 331 2018-09-01    UNRATE     3.700
#> 332 2018-10-01    UNRATE     3.800
#> 333 2018-11-01    UNRATE     3.800
#> 334 2018-12-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 335 2019-01-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 336 2019-02-01    UNRATE     3.800
#> 337 2019-03-01    UNRATE     3.800
#> 338 2019-04-01    UNRATE     3.700
#> 339 2019-05-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 340 2019-06-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 341 2019-07-01    UNRATE     3.700
#> 342 2019-08-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 343 2019-09-01    UNRATE     3.500
#> 344 2019-10-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 345 2019-11-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 346 2019-12-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 347 2020-01-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 348 2020-02-01    UNRATE     3.500
#> 349 2020-03-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 350 2020-04-01    UNRATE    14.800
#> 351 2020-05-01    UNRATE    13.200
#> 352 2020-06-01    UNRATE    11.000
#> 353 2020-07-01    UNRATE    10.200
#> 354 2020-08-01    UNRATE     8.400
#> 355 2020-09-01    UNRATE     7.800
#> 356 2020-10-01    UNRATE     6.900
#> 357 2020-11-01    UNRATE     6.700
#> 358 2020-12-01    UNRATE     6.700
#> 359 2021-01-01    UNRATE     6.400
#> 360 2021-02-01    UNRATE     6.200
#> 361 2021-03-01    UNRATE     6.100
#> 362 2021-04-01    UNRATE     6.100
#> 363 2021-05-01    UNRATE     5.800
#> 364 2021-06-01    UNRATE     5.900
#> 365 2021-07-01    UNRATE     5.400
#> 366 2021-08-01    UNRATE     5.100
#> 367 2021-09-01    UNRATE     4.700
#> 368 2021-10-01    UNRATE     4.500
#> 369 2021-11-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 370 2021-12-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 371 2022-01-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 372 2022-02-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 373 2022-03-01    UNRATE     3.700
#> 374 2022-04-01    UNRATE     3.700
#> 375 2022-05-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 376 2022-06-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 377 2022-07-01    UNRATE     3.500
#> 378 2022-08-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 379 2022-09-01    UNRATE     3.500
#> 380 2022-10-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 381 2022-11-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 382 2022-12-01    UNRATE     3.500
#> 383 2023-01-01    UNRATE     3.500
#> 384 2023-02-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 385 2023-03-01    UNRATE     3.500
#> 386 2023-04-01    UNRATE     3.400
#> 387 2023-05-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 388 2023-06-01    UNRATE     3.600
#> 389 2023-07-01    UNRATE     3.500
#> 390 2023-08-01    UNRATE     3.700
#> 391 2023-09-01    UNRATE     3.700
#> 392 2023-10-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 393 2023-11-01    UNRATE     3.700
#> 394 2023-12-01    UNRATE     3.800
#> 395 2024-01-01    UNRATE     3.700
#> 396 2024-02-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 397 2024-03-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 398 2024-04-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 399 2024-05-01    UNRATE     3.900
#> 400 2024-06-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 401 2024-07-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 402 2024-08-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 403 2024-09-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 404 2024-10-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 405 2024-11-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 406 2024-12-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 407 2025-01-01    UNRATE     4.000
#> 408 2025-02-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 409 2025-03-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 410 2025-04-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 411 2025-05-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 412 2025-06-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 413 2025-07-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 414 2025-08-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 415 2025-09-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 416 2025-10-01    UNRATE        NA
#> 417 2025-11-01    UNRATE     4.500
#> 418 2025-12-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 419 2026-01-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 420 2026-02-01    UNRATE     4.400
#> 421 2026-03-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 422 2026-04-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 423 2026-05-01    UNRATE     4.300
#> 424 2026-06-01    UNRATE     4.200
#> 425 2026-07-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 426 2026-08-01    UNRATE     4.100
#> 427 2000-01-01  CPIAUCSL   169.300
#> 428 2000-02-01  CPIAUCSL   170.000
#> 429 2000-03-01  CPIAUCSL   171.000
#> 430 2000-04-01  CPIAUCSL   170.900
#> 431 2000-05-01  CPIAUCSL   171.200
#> 432 2000-06-01  CPIAUCSL   172.200
#> 433 2000-07-01  CPIAUCSL   172.700
#> 434 2000-08-01  CPIAUCSL   172.700
#> 435 2000-09-01  CPIAUCSL   173.600
#> 436 2000-10-01  CPIAUCSL   173.900
#> 437 2000-11-01  CPIAUCSL   174.200
#> 438 2000-12-01  CPIAUCSL   174.600
#> 439 2001-01-01  CPIAUCSL   175.600
#> 440 2001-02-01  CPIAUCSL   176.000
#> 441 2001-03-01  CPIAUCSL   176.100
#> 442 2001-04-01  CPIAUCSL   176.400
#> 443 2001-05-01  CPIAUCSL   177.300
#> 444 2001-06-01  CPIAUCSL   177.700
#> 445 2001-07-01  CPIAUCSL   177.400
#> 446 2001-08-01  CPIAUCSL   177.400
#> 447 2001-09-01  CPIAUCSL   178.100
#> 448 2001-10-01  CPIAUCSL   177.600
#> 449 2001-11-01  CPIAUCSL   177.500
#> 450 2001-12-01  CPIAUCSL   177.400
#> 451 2002-01-01  CPIAUCSL   177.700
#> 452 2002-02-01  CPIAUCSL   178.000
#> 453 2002-03-01  CPIAUCSL   178.500
#> 454 2002-04-01  CPIAUCSL   179.300
#> 455 2002-05-01  CPIAUCSL   179.500
#> 456 2002-06-01  CPIAUCSL   179.600
#> 457 2002-07-01  CPIAUCSL   180.000
#> 458 2002-08-01  CPIAUCSL   180.500
#> 459 2002-09-01  CPIAUCSL   180.800
#> 460 2002-10-01  CPIAUCSL   181.200
#> 461 2002-11-01  CPIAUCSL   181.500
#> 462 2002-12-01  CPIAUCSL   181.800
#> 463 2003-01-01  CPIAUCSL   182.600
#> 464 2003-02-01  CPIAUCSL   183.600
#> 465 2003-03-01  CPIAUCSL   183.900
#> 466 2003-04-01  CPIAUCSL   183.200
#> 467 2003-05-01  CPIAUCSL   182.900
#> 468 2003-06-01  CPIAUCSL   183.100
#> 469 2003-07-01  CPIAUCSL   183.700
#> 470 2003-08-01  CPIAUCSL   184.500
#> 471 2003-09-01  CPIAUCSL   185.100
#> 472 2003-10-01  CPIAUCSL   184.900
#> 473 2003-11-01  CPIAUCSL   185.000
#> 474 2003-12-01  CPIAUCSL   185.500
#> 475 2004-01-01  CPIAUCSL   186.300
#> 476 2004-02-01  CPIAUCSL   186.700
#> 477 2004-03-01  CPIAUCSL   187.100
#> 478 2004-04-01  CPIAUCSL   187.400
#> 479 2004-05-01  CPIAUCSL   188.200
#> 480 2004-06-01  CPIAUCSL   188.900
#> 481 2004-07-01  CPIAUCSL   189.100
#> 482 2004-08-01  CPIAUCSL   189.200
#> 483 2004-09-01  CPIAUCSL   189.800
#> 484 2004-10-01  CPIAUCSL   190.800
#> 485 2004-11-01  CPIAUCSL   191.700
#> 486 2004-12-01  CPIAUCSL   191.700
#> 487 2005-01-01  CPIAUCSL   191.600
#> 488 2005-02-01  CPIAUCSL   192.400
#> 489 2005-03-01  CPIAUCSL   193.100
#> 490 2005-04-01  CPIAUCSL   193.700
#> 491 2005-05-01  CPIAUCSL   193.600
#> 492 2005-06-01  CPIAUCSL   193.700
#> 493 2005-07-01  CPIAUCSL   194.900
#> 494 2005-08-01  CPIAUCSL   196.100
#> 495 2005-09-01  CPIAUCSL   198.800
#> 496 2005-10-01  CPIAUCSL   199.100
#> 497 2005-11-01  CPIAUCSL   198.100
#> 498 2005-12-01  CPIAUCSL   198.100
#> 499 2006-01-01  CPIAUCSL   199.300
#> 500 2006-02-01  CPIAUCSL   199.400
#> 501 2006-03-01  CPIAUCSL   199.700
#> 502 2006-04-01  CPIAUCSL   200.700
#> 503 2006-05-01  CPIAUCSL   201.300
#> 504 2006-06-01  CPIAUCSL   201.800
#> 505 2006-07-01  CPIAUCSL   202.900
#> 506 2006-08-01  CPIAUCSL   203.800
#> 507 2006-09-01  CPIAUCSL   202.800
#> 508 2006-10-01  CPIAUCSL   201.900
#> 509 2006-11-01  CPIAUCSL   202.000
#> 510 2006-12-01  CPIAUCSL   203.100
#> 511 2007-01-01  CPIAUCSL   203.437
#> 512 2007-02-01  CPIAUCSL   204.226
#> 513 2007-03-01  CPIAUCSL   205.288
#> 514 2007-04-01  CPIAUCSL   205.904
#> 515 2007-05-01  CPIAUCSL   206.755
#> 516 2007-06-01  CPIAUCSL   207.234
#> 517 2007-07-01  CPIAUCSL   207.603
#> 518 2007-08-01  CPIAUCSL   207.667
#> 519 2007-09-01  CPIAUCSL   208.547
#> 520 2007-10-01  CPIAUCSL   209.190
#> 521 2007-11-01  CPIAUCSL   210.834
#> 522 2007-12-01  CPIAUCSL   211.445
#> 523 2008-01-01  CPIAUCSL   212.174
#> 524 2008-02-01  CPIAUCSL   212.687
#> 525 2008-03-01  CPIAUCSL   213.448
#> 526 2008-04-01  CPIAUCSL   213.942
#> 527 2008-05-01  CPIAUCSL   215.208
#> 528 2008-06-01  CPIAUCSL   217.463
#> 529 2008-07-01  CPIAUCSL   219.016
#> 530 2008-08-01  CPIAUCSL   218.690
#> 531 2008-09-01  CPIAUCSL   218.877
#> 532 2008-10-01  CPIAUCSL   216.995
#> 533 2008-11-01  CPIAUCSL   213.153
#> 534 2008-12-01  CPIAUCSL   211.398
#> 535 2009-01-01  CPIAUCSL   211.933
#> 536 2009-02-01  CPIAUCSL   212.705
#> 537 2009-03-01  CPIAUCSL   212.495
#> 538 2009-04-01  CPIAUCSL   212.709
#> 539 2009-05-01  CPIAUCSL   213.022
#> 540 2009-06-01  CPIAUCSL   214.790
#> 541 2009-07-01  CPIAUCSL   214.726
#> 542 2009-08-01  CPIAUCSL   215.445
#> 543 2009-09-01  CPIAUCSL   215.861
#> 544 2009-10-01  CPIAUCSL   216.509
#> 545 2009-11-01  CPIAUCSL   217.234
#> 546 2009-12-01  CPIAUCSL   217.347
#> 547 2010-01-01  CPIAUCSL   217.488
#> 548 2010-02-01  CPIAUCSL   217.281
#> 549 2010-03-01  CPIAUCSL   217.353
#> 550 2010-04-01  CPIAUCSL   217.403
#> 551 2010-05-01  CPIAUCSL   217.290
#> 552 2010-06-01  CPIAUCSL   217.199
#> 553 2010-07-01  CPIAUCSL   217.605
#> 554 2010-08-01  CPIAUCSL   217.923
#> 555 2010-09-01  CPIAUCSL   218.275
#> 556 2010-10-01  CPIAUCSL   219.035
#> 557 2010-11-01  CPIAUCSL   219.590
#> 558 2010-12-01  CPIAUCSL   220.472
#> 559 2011-01-01  CPIAUCSL   221.187
#> 560 2011-02-01  CPIAUCSL   221.898
#> 561 2011-03-01  CPIAUCSL   223.046
#> 562 2011-04-01  CPIAUCSL   224.093
#> 563 2011-05-01  CPIAUCSL   224.806
#> 564 2011-06-01  CPIAUCSL   224.806
#> 565 2011-07-01  CPIAUCSL   225.395
#> 566 2011-08-01  CPIAUCSL   226.106
#> 567 2011-09-01  CPIAUCSL   226.597
#> 568 2011-10-01  CPIAUCSL   226.750
#> 569 2011-11-01  CPIAUCSL   227.169
#> 570 2011-12-01  CPIAUCSL   227.223
#> 571 2012-01-01  CPIAUCSL   227.842
#> 572 2012-02-01  CPIAUCSL   228.329
#> 573 2012-03-01  CPIAUCSL   228.807
#> 574 2012-04-01  CPIAUCSL   229.187
#> 575 2012-05-01  CPIAUCSL   228.713
#> 576 2012-06-01  CPIAUCSL   228.524
#> 577 2012-07-01  CPIAUCSL   228.590
#> 578 2012-08-01  CPIAUCSL   229.918
#> 579 2012-09-01  CPIAUCSL   231.015
#> 580 2012-10-01  CPIAUCSL   231.638
#> 581 2012-11-01  CPIAUCSL   231.249
#> 582 2012-12-01  CPIAUCSL   231.221
#> 583 2013-01-01  CPIAUCSL   231.679
#> 584 2013-02-01  CPIAUCSL   232.937
#> 585 2013-03-01  CPIAUCSL   232.282
#> 586 2013-04-01  CPIAUCSL   231.797
#> 587 2013-05-01  CPIAUCSL   231.893
#> 588 2013-06-01  CPIAUCSL   232.445
#> 589 2013-07-01  CPIAUCSL   232.900
#> 590 2013-08-01  CPIAUCSL   233.456
#> 591 2013-09-01  CPIAUCSL   233.544
#> 592 2013-10-01  CPIAUCSL   233.669
#> 593 2013-11-01  CPIAUCSL   234.100
#> 594 2013-12-01  CPIAUCSL   234.719
#> 595 2014-01-01  CPIAUCSL   235.288
#> 596 2014-02-01  CPIAUCSL   235.547
#> 597 2014-03-01  CPIAUCSL   236.028
#> 598 2014-04-01  CPIAUCSL   236.468
#> 599 2014-05-01  CPIAUCSL   236.918
#> 600 2014-06-01  CPIAUCSL   237.231
#> 601 2014-07-01  CPIAUCSL   237.498
#> 602 2014-08-01  CPIAUCSL   237.460
#> 603 2014-09-01  CPIAUCSL   237.477
#> 604 2014-10-01  CPIAUCSL   237.430
#> 605 2014-11-01  CPIAUCSL   236.983
#> 606 2014-12-01  CPIAUCSL   236.252
#> 607 2015-01-01  CPIAUCSL   234.747
#> 608 2015-02-01  CPIAUCSL   235.342
#> 609 2015-03-01  CPIAUCSL   235.976
#> 610 2015-04-01  CPIAUCSL   236.222
#> 611 2015-05-01  CPIAUCSL   237.001
#> 612 2015-06-01  CPIAUCSL   237.657
#> 613 2015-07-01  CPIAUCSL   238.034
#> 614 2015-08-01  CPIAUCSL   238.033
#> 615 2015-09-01  CPIAUCSL   237.498
#> 616 2015-10-01  CPIAUCSL   237.733
#> 617 2015-11-01  CPIAUCSL   238.017
#> 618 2015-12-01  CPIAUCSL   237.761
#> 619 2016-01-01  CPIAUCSL   237.652
#> 620 2016-02-01  CPIAUCSL   237.336
#> 621 2016-03-01  CPIAUCSL   238.080
#> 622 2016-04-01  CPIAUCSL   238.992
#> 623 2016-05-01  CPIAUCSL   239.557
#> 624 2016-06-01  CPIAUCSL   240.222
#> 625 2016-07-01  CPIAUCSL   240.101
#> 626 2016-08-01  CPIAUCSL   240.545
#> 627 2016-09-01  CPIAUCSL   241.176
#> 628 2016-10-01  CPIAUCSL   241.741
#> 629 2016-11-01  CPIAUCSL   242.026
#> 630 2016-12-01  CPIAUCSL   242.637
#> 631 2017-01-01  CPIAUCSL   243.618
#> 632 2017-02-01  CPIAUCSL   244.006
#> 633 2017-03-01  CPIAUCSL   243.892
#> 634 2017-04-01  CPIAUCSL   244.193
#> 635 2017-05-01  CPIAUCSL   244.004
#> 636 2017-06-01  CPIAUCSL   244.163
#> 637 2017-07-01  CPIAUCSL   244.243
#> 638 2017-08-01  CPIAUCSL   245.183
#> 639 2017-09-01  CPIAUCSL   246.435
#> 640 2017-10-01  CPIAUCSL   246.626
#> 641 2017-11-01  CPIAUCSL   247.284
#> 642 2017-12-01  CPIAUCSL   247.805
#> 643 2018-01-01  CPIAUCSL   248.859
#> 644 2018-02-01  CPIAUCSL   249.529
#> 645 2018-03-01  CPIAUCSL   249.577
#> 646 2018-04-01  CPIAUCSL   250.227
#> 647 2018-05-01  CPIAUCSL   250.792
#> 648 2018-06-01  CPIAUCSL   251.018
#> 649 2018-07-01  CPIAUCSL   251.214
#> 650 2018-08-01  CPIAUCSL   251.663
#> 651 2018-09-01  CPIAUCSL   252.182
#> 652 2018-10-01  CPIAUCSL   252.772
#> 653 2018-11-01  CPIAUCSL   252.594
#> 654 2018-12-01  CPIAUCSL   252.767
#> 655 2019-01-01  CPIAUCSL   252.561
#> 656 2019-02-01  CPIAUCSL   253.319
#> 657 2019-03-01  CPIAUCSL   254.277
#> 658 2019-04-01  CPIAUCSL   255.233
#> 659 2019-05-01  CPIAUCSL   255.296
#> 660 2019-06-01  CPIAUCSL   255.213
#> 661 2019-07-01  CPIAUCSL   255.802
#> 662 2019-08-01  CPIAUCSL   256.036
#> 663 2019-09-01  CPIAUCSL   256.430
#> 664 2019-10-01  CPIAUCSL   257.155
#> 665 2019-11-01  CPIAUCSL   257.879
#> 666 2019-12-01  CPIAUCSL   258.630
#> 667 2020-01-01  CPIAUCSL   259.127
#> 668 2020-02-01  CPIAUCSL   259.250
#> 669 2020-03-01  CPIAUCSL   258.076
#> 670 2020-04-01  CPIAUCSL   256.032
#> 671 2020-05-01  CPIAUCSL   255.802
#> 672 2020-06-01  CPIAUCSL   257.042
#> 673 2020-07-01  CPIAUCSL   258.352
#> 674 2020-08-01  CPIAUCSL   259.316
#> 675 2020-09-01  CPIAUCSL   259.997
#> 676 2020-10-01  CPIAUCSL   260.319
#> 677 2020-11-01  CPIAUCSL   260.911
#> 678 2020-12-01  CPIAUCSL   262.045
#> 679 2021-01-01  CPIAUCSL   262.687
#> 680 2021-02-01  CPIAUCSL   263.579
#> 681 2021-03-01  CPIAUCSL   264.961
#> 682 2021-04-01  CPIAUCSL   266.614
#> 683 2021-05-01  CPIAUCSL   268.383
#> 684 2021-06-01  CPIAUCSL   270.654
#> 685 2021-07-01  CPIAUCSL   271.903
#> 686 2021-08-01  CPIAUCSL   272.676
#> 687 2021-09-01  CPIAUCSL   273.910
#> 688 2021-10-01  CPIAUCSL   276.550
#> 689 2021-11-01  CPIAUCSL   278.919
#> 690 2021-12-01  CPIAUCSL   280.845
#> 691 2022-01-01  CPIAUCSL   282.543
#> 692 2022-02-01  CPIAUCSL   284.500
#> 693 2022-03-01  CPIAUCSL   287.674
#> 694 2022-04-01  CPIAUCSL   288.561
#> 695 2022-05-01  CPIAUCSL   291.298
#> 696 2022-06-01  CPIAUCSL   294.957
#> 697 2022-07-01  CPIAUCSL   294.913
#> 698 2022-08-01  CPIAUCSL   295.097
#> 699 2022-09-01  CPIAUCSL   296.349
#> 700 2022-10-01  CPIAUCSL   298.007
#> 701 2022-11-01  CPIAUCSL   298.786
#> 702 2022-12-01  CPIAUCSL   298.832
#> 703 2023-01-01  CPIAUCSL   300.420
#> 704 2023-02-01  CPIAUCSL   301.450
#> 705 2023-03-01  CPIAUCSL   301.821
#> 706 2023-04-01  CPIAUCSL   302.845
#> 707 2023-05-01  CPIAUCSL   303.334
#> 708 2023-06-01  CPIAUCSL   304.014
#> 709 2023-07-01  CPIAUCSL   304.609
#> 710 2023-08-01  CPIAUCSL   306.082
#> 711 2023-09-01  CPIAUCSL   307.276
#> 712 2023-10-01  CPIAUCSL   307.696
#> 713 2023-11-01  CPIAUCSL   308.148
#> 714 2023-12-01  CPIAUCSL   308.741
#> 715 2024-01-01  CPIAUCSL   309.698
#> 716 2024-02-01  CPIAUCSL   310.967
#> 717 2024-03-01  CPIAUCSL   312.345
#> 718 2024-04-01  CPIAUCSL   313.023
#> 719 2024-05-01  CPIAUCSL   313.175
#> 720 2024-06-01  CPIAUCSL   313.044
#> 721 2024-07-01  CPIAUCSL   313.569
#> 722 2024-08-01  CPIAUCSL   314.062
#> 723 2024-09-01  CPIAUCSL   314.732
#> 724 2024-10-01  CPIAUCSL   315.631
#> 725 2024-11-01  CPIAUCSL   316.528
#> 726 2024-12-01  CPIAUCSL   317.604
#> 727 2025-01-01  CPIAUCSL   318.961
#> 728 2025-02-01  CPIAUCSL   319.679
#> 729 2025-03-01  CPIAUCSL   319.785
#> 730 2025-04-01  CPIAUCSL   320.302
#> 731 2025-05-01  CPIAUCSL   320.620
#> 732 2025-06-01  CPIAUCSL   321.435
#> 733 2025-07-01  CPIAUCSL   322.169
#> 734 2025-08-01  CPIAUCSL   323.291
#> 735 2025-09-01  CPIAUCSL   324.245
#> 736 2025-10-01  CPIAUCSL        NA
#> 737 2025-11-01  CPIAUCSL   325.063
#> 738 2025-12-01  CPIAUCSL   326.031
#> 739 2026-01-01  CPIAUCSL   326.588
#> 740 2026-02-01  CPIAUCSL   327.460
#> 741 2026-03-01  CPIAUCSL   330.293
#> 742 2026-04-01  CPIAUCSL   332.407
#> 743 2026-05-01  CPIAUCSL   333.979
#> 744 2026-06-01  CPIAUCSL   332.568
#> 745 2026-07-01  CPIAUCSL   332.813

The print header tells you immediately what you are looking at: three series, how many rows, which transformation was applied, the frequency, and any vintage information. Underneath, panel is a plain data frame.

Transformations

For inflation and growth analyses, raw levels are usually less useful than year-on-year percent change. Pass a readable transform rather than the raw FRED units code:

growth_panel <- fred_series(
  c("GDPC1", "CPIAUCSL"),
  from = "2010-01-01",
  transform = "yoy_pct"
)
growth_panel
#> # FRED: 2 series · 265 obs · units=pc1 · transform=yoy_pct
#>           date series_id    value
#> 1   2010-01-01     GDPC1  1.74527
#> 2   2010-04-01     GDPC1  2.91360
#> 3   2010-07-01     GDPC1  3.34421
#> 4   2010-10-01     GDPC1  2.77596
#> 5   2011-01-01     GDPC1  2.03780
#> 6   2011-04-01     GDPC1  1.74371
#> 7   2011-07-01     GDPC1  0.94265
#> 8   2011-10-01     GDPC1  1.54308
#> 9   2012-01-01     GDPC1  2.63807
#> 10  2012-04-01     GDPC1  2.40334
#> 11  2012-07-01     GDPC1  2.57371
#> 12  2012-10-01     GDPC1  1.55185
#> 13  2013-01-01     GDPC1  1.70087
#> 14  2013-04-01     GDPC1  1.51994
#> 15  2013-07-01     GDPC1  2.23702
#> 16  2013-10-01     GDPC1  3.00914
#> 17  2014-01-01     GDPC1  1.65082
#> 18  2014-04-01     GDPC1  2.68915
#> 19  2014-07-01     GDPC1  3.05978
#> 20  2014-10-01     GDPC1  2.68584
#> 21  2015-01-01     GDPC1  3.96930
#> 22  2015-04-01     GDPC1  3.27909
#> 23  2015-07-01     GDPC1  2.44732
#> 24  2015-10-01     GDPC1  2.11986
#> 25  2016-01-01     GDPC1  1.79502
#> 26  2016-04-01     GDPC1  1.49325
#> 27  2016-07-01     GDPC1  1.80576
#> 28  2016-10-01     GDPC1  2.18157
#> 29  2017-01-01     GDPC1  2.08746
#> 30  2017-04-01     GDPC1  2.33041
#> 31  2017-07-01     GDPC1  2.41082
#> 32  2017-10-01     GDPC1  2.99414
#> 33  2018-01-01     GDPC1  3.32881
#> 34  2018-04-01     GDPC1  3.29896
#> 35  2018-07-01     GDPC1  3.13003
#> 36  2018-10-01     GDPC1  2.12511
#> 37  2019-01-01     GDPC1  1.93356
#> 38  2019-04-01     GDPC1  2.24213
#> 39  2019-07-01     GDPC1  2.79722
#> 40  2019-10-01     GDPC1  3.35178
#> 41  2020-01-01     GDPC1  1.35854
#> 42  2020-04-01     GDPC1 -7.39861
#> 43  2020-07-01     GDPC1 -1.36467
#> 44  2020-10-01     GDPC1 -0.92222
#> 45  2021-01-01     GDPC1  1.80075
#> 46  2021-04-01     GDPC1 12.38567
#> 47  2021-07-01     GDPC1  5.15081
#> 48  2021-10-01     GDPC1  5.75618
#> 49  2022-01-01     GDPC1  4.03458
#> 50  2022-04-01     GDPC1  2.45379
#> 51  2022-07-01     GDPC1  2.34897
#> 52  2022-10-01     GDPC1  1.31707
#> 53  2023-01-01     GDPC1  2.31115
#> 54  2023-04-01     GDPC1  2.79261
#> 55  2023-07-01     GDPC1  3.23319
#> 56  2023-10-01     GDPC1  3.39089
#> 57  2024-01-01     GDPC1  2.86329
#> 58  2024-04-01     GDPC1  3.12663
#> 59  2024-07-01     GDPC1  2.79139
#> 60  2024-10-01     GDPC1  2.39979
#> 61  2025-01-01     GDPC1  2.01927
#> 62  2025-04-01     GDPC1  2.08047
#> 63  2025-07-01     GDPC1  2.33517
#> 64  2025-10-01     GDPC1  1.98930
#> 65  2026-01-01     GDPC1  2.68474
#> 66  2026-04-01     GDPC1  2.09767
#> 67  2010-01-01  CPIAUCSL  2.62111
#> 68  2010-02-01  CPIAUCSL  2.15134
#> 69  2010-03-01  CPIAUCSL  2.28617
#> 70  2010-04-01  CPIAUCSL  2.20677
#> 71  2010-05-01  CPIAUCSL  2.00355
#> 72  2010-06-01  CPIAUCSL  1.12156
#> 73  2010-07-01  CPIAUCSL  1.34078
#> 74  2010-08-01  CPIAUCSL  1.15018
#> 75  2010-09-01  CPIAUCSL  1.11831
#> 76  2010-10-01  CPIAUCSL  1.16670
#> 77  2010-11-01  CPIAUCSL  1.08454
#> 78  2010-12-01  CPIAUCSL  1.43779
#> 79  2011-01-01  CPIAUCSL  1.70078
#> 80  2011-02-01  CPIAUCSL  2.12490
#> 81  2011-03-01  CPIAUCSL  2.61924
#> 82  2011-04-01  CPIAUCSL  3.07723
#> 83  2011-05-01  CPIAUCSL  3.45897
#> 84  2011-06-01  CPIAUCSL  3.50232
#> 85  2011-07-01  CPIAUCSL  3.57988
#> 86  2011-08-01  CPIAUCSL  3.75500
#> 87  2011-09-01  CPIAUCSL  3.81262
#> 88  2011-10-01  CPIAUCSL  3.52227
#> 89  2011-11-01  CPIAUCSL  3.45143
#> 90  2011-12-01  CPIAUCSL  3.06207
#> 91  2012-01-01  CPIAUCSL  3.00877
#> 92  2012-02-01  CPIAUCSL  2.89818
#> 93  2012-03-01  CPIAUCSL  2.58288
#> 94  2012-04-01  CPIAUCSL  2.27316
#> 95  2012-05-01  CPIAUCSL  1.73794
#> 96  2012-06-01  CPIAUCSL  1.65387
#> 97  2012-07-01  CPIAUCSL  1.41751
#> 98  2012-08-01  CPIAUCSL  1.68593
#> 99  2012-09-01  CPIAUCSL  1.94972
#> 100 2012-10-01  CPIAUCSL  2.15568
#> 101 2012-11-01  CPIAUCSL  1.79602
#> 102 2012-12-01  CPIAUCSL  1.75950
#> 103 2013-01-01  CPIAUCSL  1.68406
#> 104 2013-02-01  CPIAUCSL  2.01814
#> 105 2013-03-01  CPIAUCSL  1.51875
#> 106 2013-04-01  CPIAUCSL  1.13881
#> 107 2013-05-01  CPIAUCSL  1.39039
#> 108 2013-06-01  CPIAUCSL  1.71579
#> 109 2013-07-01  CPIAUCSL  1.88547
#> 110 2013-08-01  CPIAUCSL  1.53881
#> 111 2013-09-01  CPIAUCSL  1.09473
#> 112 2013-10-01  CPIAUCSL  0.87680
#> 113 2013-11-01  CPIAUCSL  1.23287
#> 114 2013-12-01  CPIAUCSL  1.51284
#> 115 2014-01-01  CPIAUCSL  1.55776
#> 116 2014-02-01  CPIAUCSL  1.12047
#> 117 2014-03-01  CPIAUCSL  1.61269
#> 118 2014-04-01  CPIAUCSL  2.01513
#> 119 2014-05-01  CPIAUCSL  2.16695
#> 120 2014-06-01  CPIAUCSL  2.05898
#> 121 2014-07-01  CPIAUCSL  1.97424
#> 122 2014-08-01  CPIAUCSL  1.71510
#> 123 2014-09-01  CPIAUCSL  1.68405
#> 124 2014-10-01  CPIAUCSL  1.60954
#> 125 2014-11-01  CPIAUCSL  1.23152
#> 126 2014-12-01  CPIAUCSL  0.65312
#> 127 2015-01-01  CPIAUCSL -0.22993
#> 128 2015-02-01  CPIAUCSL -0.08703
#> 129 2015-03-01  CPIAUCSL -0.02203
#> 130 2015-04-01  CPIAUCSL -0.10403
#> 131 2015-05-01  CPIAUCSL  0.03503
#> 132 2015-06-01  CPIAUCSL  0.17957
#> 133 2015-07-01  CPIAUCSL  0.22569
#> 134 2015-08-01  CPIAUCSL  0.24130
#> 135 2015-09-01  CPIAUCSL  0.00884
#> 136 2015-10-01  CPIAUCSL  0.12762
#> 137 2015-11-01  CPIAUCSL  0.43632
#> 138 2015-12-01  CPIAUCSL  0.63872
#> 139 2016-01-01  CPIAUCSL  1.23750
#> 140 2016-02-01  CPIAUCSL  0.84728
#> 141 2016-03-01  CPIAUCSL  0.89162
#> 142 2016-04-01  CPIAUCSL  1.17263
#> 143 2016-05-01  CPIAUCSL  1.07848
#> 144 2016-06-01  CPIAUCSL  1.07929
#> 145 2016-07-01  CPIAUCSL  0.86836
#> 146 2016-08-01  CPIAUCSL  1.05532
#> 147 2016-09-01  CPIAUCSL  1.54864
#> 148 2016-10-01  CPIAUCSL  1.68592
#> 149 2016-11-01  CPIAUCSL  1.68433
#> 150 2016-12-01  CPIAUCSL  2.05080
#> 151 2017-01-01  CPIAUCSL  2.51039
#> 152 2017-02-01  CPIAUCSL  2.81036
#> 153 2017-03-01  CPIAUCSL  2.44120
#> 154 2017-04-01  CPIAUCSL  2.17622
#> 155 2017-05-01  CPIAUCSL  1.85634
#> 156 2017-06-01  CPIAUCSL  1.64057
#> 157 2017-07-01  CPIAUCSL  1.72511
#> 158 2017-08-01  CPIAUCSL  1.92812
#> 159 2017-09-01  CPIAUCSL  2.18057
#> 160 2017-10-01  CPIAUCSL  2.02076
#> 161 2017-11-01  CPIAUCSL  2.17249
#> 162 2017-12-01  CPIAUCSL  2.12993
#> 163 2018-01-01  CPIAUCSL  2.15132
#> 164 2018-02-01  CPIAUCSL  2.26347
#> 165 2018-03-01  CPIAUCSL  2.33095
#> 166 2018-04-01  CPIAUCSL  2.47100
#> 167 2018-05-01  CPIAUCSL  2.78192
#> 168 2018-06-01  CPIAUCSL  2.80755
#> 169 2018-07-01  CPIAUCSL  2.85412
#> 170 2018-08-01  CPIAUCSL  2.64292
#> 171 2018-09-01  CPIAUCSL  2.33206
#> 172 2018-10-01  CPIAUCSL  2.49203
#> 173 2018-11-01  CPIAUCSL  2.14733
#> 174 2018-12-01  CPIAUCSL  2.00238
#> 175 2019-01-01  CPIAUCSL  1.48759
#> 176 2019-02-01  CPIAUCSL  1.51886
#> 177 2019-03-01  CPIAUCSL  1.88319
#> 178 2019-04-01  CPIAUCSL  2.00058
#> 179 2019-05-01  CPIAUCSL  1.79591
#> 180 2019-06-01  CPIAUCSL  1.67119
#> 181 2019-07-01  CPIAUCSL  1.82633
#> 182 2019-08-01  CPIAUCSL  1.73764
#> 183 2019-09-01  CPIAUCSL  1.68450
#> 184 2019-10-01  CPIAUCSL  1.73397
#> 185 2019-11-01  CPIAUCSL  2.09229
#> 186 2019-12-01  CPIAUCSL  2.31953
#> 187 2020-01-01  CPIAUCSL  2.59977
#> 188 2020-02-01  CPIAUCSL  2.34132
#> 189 2020-03-01  CPIAUCSL  1.49404
#> 190 2020-04-01  CPIAUCSL  0.31305
#> 191 2020-05-01  CPIAUCSL  0.19820
#> 192 2020-06-01  CPIAUCSL  0.71666
#> 193 2020-07-01  CPIAUCSL  0.99686
#> 194 2020-08-01  CPIAUCSL  1.28107
#> 195 2020-09-01  CPIAUCSL  1.39102
#> 196 2020-10-01  CPIAUCSL  1.23039
#> 197 2020-11-01  CPIAUCSL  1.17575
#> 198 2020-12-01  CPIAUCSL  1.32042
#> 199 2021-01-01  CPIAUCSL  1.37384
#> 200 2021-02-01  CPIAUCSL  1.66982
#> 201 2021-03-01  CPIAUCSL  2.66782
#> 202 2021-04-01  CPIAUCSL  4.13308
#> 203 2021-05-01  CPIAUCSL  4.91826
#> 204 2021-06-01  CPIAUCSL  5.29563
#> 205 2021-07-01  CPIAUCSL  5.24517
#> 206 2021-08-01  CPIAUCSL  5.15202
#> 207 2021-09-01  CPIAUCSL  5.35122
#> 208 2021-10-01  CPIAUCSL  6.23504
#> 209 2021-11-01  CPIAUCSL  6.90197
#> 210 2021-12-01  CPIAUCSL  7.17434
#> 211 2022-01-01  CPIAUCSL  7.55881
#> 212 2022-02-01  CPIAUCSL  7.93728
#> 213 2022-03-01  CPIAUCSL  8.57220
#> 214 2022-04-01  CPIAUCSL  8.23175
#> 215 2022-05-01  CPIAUCSL  8.53817
#> 216 2022-06-01  CPIAUCSL  8.97936
#> 217 2022-07-01  CPIAUCSL  8.46258
#> 218 2022-08-01  CPIAUCSL  8.22258
#> 219 2022-09-01  CPIAUCSL  8.19211
#> 220 2022-10-01  CPIAUCSL  7.75881
#> 221 2022-11-01  CPIAUCSL  7.12286
#> 222 2022-12-01  CPIAUCSL  6.40460
#> 223 2023-01-01  CPIAUCSL  6.32718
#> 224 2023-02-01  CPIAUCSL  5.95782
#> 225 2023-03-01  CPIAUCSL  4.91772
#> 226 2023-04-01  CPIAUCSL  4.95008
#> 227 2023-05-01  CPIAUCSL  4.13185
#> 228 2023-06-01  CPIAUCSL  3.07062
#> 229 2023-07-01  CPIAUCSL  3.28775
#> 230 2023-08-01  CPIAUCSL  3.72250
#> 231 2023-09-01  CPIAUCSL  3.68721
#> 232 2023-10-01  CPIAUCSL  3.25127
#> 233 2023-11-01  CPIAUCSL  3.13335
#> 234 2023-12-01  CPIAUCSL  3.31591
#> 235 2024-01-01  CPIAUCSL  3.08834
#> 236 2024-02-01  CPIAUCSL  3.15707
#> 237 2024-03-01  CPIAUCSL  3.48683
#> 238 2024-04-01  CPIAUCSL  3.36080
#> 239 2024-05-01  CPIAUCSL  3.24428
#> 240 2024-06-01  CPIAUCSL  2.97026
#> 241 2024-07-01  CPIAUCSL  2.94148
#> 242 2024-08-01  CPIAUCSL  2.60714
#> 243 2024-09-01  CPIAUCSL  2.42648
#> 244 2024-10-01  CPIAUCSL  2.57884
#> 245 2024-11-01  CPIAUCSL  2.71947
#> 246 2024-12-01  CPIAUCSL  2.87069
#> 247 2025-01-01  CPIAUCSL  2.99098
#> 248 2025-02-01  CPIAUCSL  2.80158
#> 249 2025-03-01  CPIAUCSL  2.38198
#> 250 2025-04-01  CPIAUCSL  2.32539
#> 251 2025-05-01  CPIAUCSL  2.37727
#> 252 2025-06-01  CPIAUCSL  2.68045
#> 253 2025-07-01  CPIAUCSL  2.74262
#> 254 2025-08-01  CPIAUCSL  2.93859
#> 255 2025-09-01  CPIAUCSL  3.02257
#> 256 2025-10-01  CPIAUCSL       NA
#> 257 2025-11-01  CPIAUCSL  2.69644
#> 258 2025-12-01  CPIAUCSL  2.65330
#> 259 2026-01-01  CPIAUCSL  2.39120
#> 260 2026-02-01  CPIAUCSL  2.43400
#> 261 2026-03-01  CPIAUCSL  3.28596
#> 262 2026-04-01  CPIAUCSL  3.77925
#> 263 2026-05-01  CPIAUCSL  4.16661
#> 264 2026-06-01  CPIAUCSL  3.46353
#> 265 2026-07-01  CPIAUCSL  3.30386

transform and units are mutually exclusive. The full list of readable aliases lives in ?fred_series. Server-side transforms avoid a manual diff(log(x)) step and ensure the result matches what FRED itself shows.

Wide format for cross-series work

For correlation matrices, scatter plots, or regression input, wide is more convenient than long.

wide <- fred_series(
  c("UNRATE", "CIVPART", "EMRATIO"),
  from = "2000-01-01",
  format = "wide"
)
head(wide)
#> # FRED: 3 series · 6 obs
#>         date UNRATE CIVPART EMRATIO
#> 1 2000-01-01    4.0    67.3    64.6
#> 2 2000-02-01    4.1    67.3    64.6
#> 3 2000-03-01    4.0    67.3    64.6
#> 4 2000-04-01    3.8    67.3    64.7
#> 5 2000-05-01    4.0    67.1    64.4
#> 6 2000-06-01    4.0    67.1    64.5

Default plot

The default plot.fred_tbl() method handles long and wide format automatically and shades NBER recessions when the date range overlaps one.

plot(growth_panel, ylab = "% YoY")

plot(wide, ylab = "%", main = "US labour market")

Pass recessions = FALSE to switch off shading. Pass a col = vector of length equal to the number of series to override the default palette.

A starting catalogue

If you cannot remember a series ID, fred_catalogue() ships a curated offline reference of around 50 widely used series:

fred_catalogue(category = "Inflation")
#> # FRED: catalogue · 6 rows
#>         id                                                     title frequency
#> 1 CPIAUCSL                    CPI for All Urban Consumers: All Items         M
#> 2 CPILFESL         CPI for All Urban Consumers: Less Food and Energy         M
#> 3    PCEPI Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index         M
#> 4 PCEPILFE     PCE Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index         M
#> 5   PPIACO        Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities         M
#> 6   T10YIE                          10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate         D
#>               units  category                               description
#> 1 Index 1982-84=100 Inflation     BLS headline CPI, seasonally adjusted
#> 2 Index 1982-84=100 Inflation                              BLS core CPI
#> 3    Index 2017=100 Inflation                 BEA headline PCE deflator
#> 4    Index 2017=100 Inflation        BEA core PCE deflator (Fed target)
#> 5    Index 1982=100 Inflation                   BLS PPI all commodities
#> 6           Percent Inflation Market-implied 10y inflation expectations

Filtering with query = does a case-insensitive substring match against the ID, title, and description:

fred_catalogue(query = "mortgage")
#> # FRED: catalogue · 1 row
#>             id                               title frequency   units
#> 1 MORTGAGE30US 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average         W Percent
#>         category                        description
#> 1 Interest Rates Freddie Mac PMMS 30y mortgage rate

For the FRED category tree, use fred_browse(). With no arguments it shows the eight top-level categories from a static reference (no API call):

fred_browse()
#> FRED top-level categories
#> -------------------------
#>    32991  Money, Banking, & Finance
#>       10  Population, Employment, & Labor Markets
#>    32992  National Accounts
#>        1  Production & Business Activity
#>    32455  Prices
#>    32263  International Data
#>     3008  U.S. Regional Data
#>    33060  Academic Data
#> 
#> Use fred_browse(id) to drill into a category.

Pass a category ID to drill into its children (this hits the API and is cached).

Where to next

Real-time and vintages: see vignette("nowcasting-with-fred") for a pseudo-real-time GDP nowcasting backtest.
Inflation revisions: see vignette("inflation-revisions") for tracking how core inflation estimates change with revisions.
Reproducibility: combine fred_cite_series() and fred_manifest() to pin every series your analysis depends on.

These binaries (installable software) and packages are in development.
They may not be fully stable and should be used with caution. We make no claims about them.