c1d6b0b9f8
Created new US-Inflation data directory with: - 945 monthly CPI-U observations from FRED/BLS (Jan 1947 - Aug 2025) - Comprehensive metadata documentation with methodology - README with source research and justification - UPDATES.md change log and update procedures - RESOURCES.md with data sources and API access - Structure mirrors existing COVID wastewater dataset Data source: FRED Series CPIAUCSL (CPI for All Urban Consumers, Seasonally Adjusted) Update frequency: Monthly (mid-month BLS releases) 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
114 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
114 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
# U.S. Inflation Data Resources
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## Primary Data Source
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**FRED Series CPIAUCSL**: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL
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- CPI for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
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- Seasonally Adjusted
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- Monthly updates (mid-month release)
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- Direct CSV download available
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**Direct CSV Download**: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/fredgraph.csv?id=CPIAUCSL&cosd=1947-01-01
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- No authentication required
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- Clean CSV format
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- Historical data from 1947 to present
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## Official Government Sources
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**Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)**: https://www.bls.gov/cpi/
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- Official source of CPI data
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- Comprehensive documentation and methodology
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- Interactive data tools
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**BLS CPI Data Page**: https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CPIAUCSL
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- Official BLS data viewer
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- Multiple download formats
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- Historical archives
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**BLS API**: https://www.bls.gov/developers/
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- Free tier: 500 queries/day
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- JSON format
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- Multiple series access
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## Interactive Dashboards
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**BLS CPI Dashboard**: https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-overview.htm
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- Visual charts and graphs
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- Latest release information
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- Interactive exploration
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**FRED CPIAUCSL Graph**: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1qGKs
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- Customizable time series charts
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- Add comparison series
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- Export graphs and data
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## Related CPI Series
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**Core CPI (Excluding Food & Energy)**: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPILFESL
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- Better indicator of underlying inflation trends
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- Used by Federal Reserve for policy decisions
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**CPI Not Seasonally Adjusted**: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCNS
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- Raw data without seasonal adjustment
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**CPI Components**:
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- Food: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIFABSL
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- Energy: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIENGSL
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- Housing: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIHOSSL
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- Medical Care: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIMEDSL
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## Documentation & Methodology
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**BLS Handbook of Methods**: https://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cpi/
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- Complete methodology documentation
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- Data collection procedures
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- Calculation formulas
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**BLS CPI FAQ**: https://www.bls.gov/cpi/questions-and-answers.htm
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- Common questions answered
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- Interpretation guidance
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**Federal Reserve Inflation Info**: https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/economy_14400.htm
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- Fed's 2% inflation target explanation
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- PCE vs CPI comparison
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## Alternative Inflation Measures
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**PCE Price Index**: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PCEPI
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- Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure
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- Personal Consumption Expenditures price index
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**Producer Price Index (PPI)**: https://www.bls.gov/ppi/
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- Wholesale/producer price inflation
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- Leading indicator for CPI
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**Employment Cost Index**: https://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/
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- Labor cost inflation
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- Wages and benefits
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## API Access
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**FRED API Documentation**: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/fred/
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- Free API key registration
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- Comprehensive time series access
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- JSON and XML formats
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**Example API Call**:
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```
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https://api.stlouisfed.org/fred/series/observations?series_id=CPIAUCSL&api_key=YOUR_KEY&file_type=json
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```
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## Research & Analysis Tools
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**Inflation Calculator**: https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm
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- Convert dollars across time periods
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- Based on CPI-U data
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**FRED Economic Research**: https://research.stlouisfed.org/
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- Academic papers using FRED data
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- Economic analysis and commentary
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---
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**Last Updated**: 2025-10-07
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