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

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