econstats-mcp
Economic data MCP server with an economist's methodology guide. Connects FRED, BLS, BEA, IMF, World Bank, and ECB to any MCP-compatible client.
What makes it different
Not just data access — the server includes methodology rules that teach LLMs which series to pick:
- CPI vs PCE for inflation (and why they diverge)
- Prime-age EPOP vs headline unemployment for labor market tightness
- YoY % change for CPI/PPI indexes, monthly change for employment
- BLS direct on release day (FRED lags 30-60 minutes)
- Real wages: explains which of 4 measures it's using and why
Quick Start
# Install Bun if needed
curl -fsSL https://bun.sh/install | bash
# Run (get a free FRED API key at https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/api_key.html)
FRED_API_KEY=your-key bunx econstats-mcp
Setup
Claude Desktop
Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"econstats": {
"command": "bunx",
"args": ["econstats-mcp"],
"env": { "FRED_API_KEY": "your-key" }
}
}
}
Claude Code
Add to ~/.claude/.mcp.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"econstats": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "bunx",
"args": ["econstats-mcp"],
"env": { "FRED_API_KEY": "your-key" }
}
}
}
OpenBB
Connect as an MCP server in the OpenBB workspace AI settings.
API Keys
| Key | Required | Get it |
|---|---|---|
FRED_API_KEY | Yes | https://fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/api_key.html (free) |
BLS_API_KEY | Optional | https://data.bls.gov/registrationEngine/ (free, higher rate limits) |
BEA_API_KEY | Optional | https://apps.bea.gov/API/signup/ (free, for GDP detail) |
IMF, World Bank, and ECB need no keys.
Tools (11)
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
fred_search | Search FRED series by keyword |
fred_get_series | Fetch FRED data with transformations (YoY%, change, etc.) |
bls_get_series | Fetch BLS data with pre-computed YoY% and monthly changes |
bls_series_lookup | Find BLS series IDs by keyword |
bea_get_data | BEA national accounts (GDP components, state data) |
imf_get_data | IMF International Financial Statistics (190 countries) |
worldbank_get_data | World Bank development indicators (200+ countries) |
worldbank_search | Search World Bank indicators |
ecb_get_data | ECB data (euro area rates, HICP, money supply) |
inflation_adjust | Convert dollar amounts between dates using CPI-U |
check_release_calendar | Check if today is a data release day |
Data Sources
All data comes from free, public government APIs. We attribute all data to its source agency (Federal Reserve, BLS, BEA, IMF, World Bank, ECB). No data is redistributed — each query fetches directly from the source.
License
MIT