VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing CME FedWatch Tool and ECB Data Portal will find that Both CME FedWatch Tool and ECB Data Portal concentrate on Central Bank Watcher, Interest Rates, and Data APIs workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. CME FedWatch Tool leans into Calendar, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. ECB Data Portal stands out with Inflation Rates, GDP, and Unemployment Rates that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
CME FedWatch Tool vs ECB Data Portal
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- CME FedWatch Tool adds Calendar coverage that ECB Data Portal skips.
- ECB Data Portal includes Inflation Rates, GDP, Unemployment Rates, Yield Curves, and Real Yields categories that CME FedWatch Tool omits.
- CME FedWatch Tool highlights: Meeting‑by‑meeting probabilities of FOMC target‑rate outcomes implied by Fed Funds futures., Compare view (current vs 1‑day/1‑week/1‑month ago) and Historical panel., and Fed ‘Dot Plot’ chart plus table view..
- ECB Data Portal is known for: Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations)., Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic)., and Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint)..
CME FedWatch Tool
cmegroup.com
Official CME probabilities for upcoming FOMC decisions, derived from 30‑Day Fed Funds (ZQ) futures. Web tool provides meeting‑by‑meeting probability matrices, comparisons over time, a historical download, and a Dot Plot view. A paid REST API is available for programmatic access. CME documents the probability‑tree methodology clearly; API snapshots update on business days at ~01:45 UTC. Media usage asks attribution to “CME FedWatch.”
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Meeting‑by‑meeting probabilities of FOMC target‑rate outcomes implied by Fed Funds futures.
- Compare view (current vs 1‑day/1‑week/1‑month ago) and Historical panel.
- Fed ‘Dot Plot’ chart plus table view.
- One‑click PDF generation of the current page and Excel downloads for historical probabilities.
- Transparent methodology: unconditional probabilities via a binary probability tree built from implied EFFR, assuming 25 bp step sizes.
ECB Data Portal
data.ecb.europa.eu
Official ECB gateway for euro‑area statistics with an open SDMX 2.1 REST API. The new endpoint is https://data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ (replacing the legacy SDW path). Content negotiation supports SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML. Charts and tables can be downloaded as CSV/XLS (long & wide), and charts as PNG/PDF/PPT. Typical update cadence is daily to monthly (e.g., reference FX rates around 16:00 CET on working days). ECB advises migrating from the old SDW URL as automatic redirects are planned to end on 1 Oct 2025.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations).
- Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic).
- Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint).
- Comprehensive euro‑area macro & markets coverage: HICP inflation, key & market interest rates, exchange rates (reference rates), GDP and labor indicators, plus euro‑area yield curves (spot/forward/par).
- Revisions/deltas supported (`updatedAfter`) and conditional GET via `If‑Modified‑Since` for efficient sync.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
CME FedWatch Tool
Distinct strengths include:
- Meeting‑by‑meeting probabilities of FOMC target‑rate outcomes implied by Fed Funds futures.
- Compare view (current vs 1‑day/1‑week/1‑month ago) and Historical panel.
- Fed ‘Dot Plot’ chart plus table view.
- One‑click PDF generation of the current page and Excel downloads for historical probabilities.
ECB Data Portal
Distinct strengths include:
- Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations).
- Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic).
- Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint).
- Comprehensive euro‑area macro & markets coverage: HICP inflation, key & market interest rates, exchange rates (reference rates), GDP and labor indicators, plus euro‑area yield curves (spot/forward/par).
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | CME FedWatch Tool | ECB Data Portal |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Central Bank Watcher, Interest Rates, Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, Data Visualizations Unique: Calendar | Shared: Central Bank Watcher, Interest Rates, Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, Data Visualizations Unique: Inflation Rates, GDP, Unemployment Rates, Yield Curves, Real Yields |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Futures | Bonds, Currencies, Other |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, API | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free, Subscription | Free |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do CME FedWatch Tool and ECB Data Portal both support?
Both platforms cover Central Bank Watcher, Interest Rates, Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, and Data Visualizations workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do CME FedWatch Tool and ECB Data Portal require subscriptions?
Both CME FedWatch Tool and ECB Data Portal keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access CME FedWatch Tool and ECB Data Portal?
Both CME FedWatch Tool and ECB Data Portal prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
CME FedWatch Tool differentiates itself with Meeting‑by‑meeting probabilities of FOMC target‑rate outcomes implied by Fed Funds futures., Compare view (current vs 1‑day/1‑week/1‑month ago) and Historical panel., and Fed ‘Dot Plot’ chart plus table view., whereas ECB Data Portal stands out for Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations)., Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic)., and Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint)..
Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.