VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing European Central Bank (ECB) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) will find that Both European Central Bank (ECB) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) concentrate on Data APIs, Calendar, and News workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. European Central Bank (ECB) leans into Inflation Rates, GDP, and Unemployment Rates, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
European Central Bank (ECB) vs Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov)
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- European Central Bank (ECB) adds Inflation Rates, GDP, and Unemployment Rates coverage that Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) skips.
- European Central Bank (ECB) highlights: Public SDMX 2.1 REST API with access to the ECB Data Portal (data-api.ecb.europa.eu). Existing SDW endpoints continue to work with unchanged syntax., Flexible format support including SDMX-ML, SDMX-JSON, CSV, and pivot-table-optimized CSV. Supports HTTP compression for efficient transfers., and Excel integration via Power Query using CSV endpoints or the application/vnd.ecb.data+csv MIME type..
- Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) is known for: Data Download Program (DDP) with custom or preformatted packages, available in Excel, CSV, or XML., H.15 Selected Interest Rates, including daily Treasury constant-maturity yields., and H.4.1 Factors Affecting Reserve Balances (the Fed balance sheet), updated weekly every Thursday at 4:30 p.m..
European Central Bank (ECB)
ecb.europa.eu
The official portal of the European Central Bank, including its Data Portal. Provides free access to monetary policy information, publications, and structured datasets. Data is available through a public SDMX 2.1 REST API with CSV and SDMX-JSON formats, bulk downloads, and chart-level exports. Key scheduled releases include €STR at 08:00 CET, FX reference rates around 16:00 CET, and daily euro area yield curves at 12:00 CET.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Public SDMX 2.1 REST API with access to the ECB Data Portal (data-api.ecb.europa.eu). Existing SDW endpoints continue to work with unchanged syntax.
- Flexible format support including SDMX-ML, SDMX-JSON, CSV, and pivot-table-optimized CSV. Supports HTTP compression for efficient transfers.
- Excel integration via Power Query using CSV endpoints or the application/vnd.ecb.data+csv MIME type.
- Bulk dataset downloads available directly from dataset pages, including CSV and SDMX 2.1 exports.
- €STR (Euro Short-Term Rate) published daily at 08:00 CET, with revisions at 09:00 CET if errors exceed 2 basis points.
Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov)
federalreserve.gov
The official website of the U.S. central bank. Through its Data Download Program (DDP), the Fed offers public access to many of its most important statistical releases in Excel, CSV, or XML formats. Key datasets include interest rates, the Fed balance sheet, commercial bank assets, foreign exchange rates, industrial production, and financial accounts. The site also hosts FOMC calendars, meeting minutes, press releases, speeches, and other policy materials.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Data Download Program (DDP) with custom or preformatted packages, available in Excel, CSV, or XML.
- H.15 Selected Interest Rates, including daily Treasury constant-maturity yields.
- H.4.1 Factors Affecting Reserve Balances (the Fed balance sheet), updated weekly every Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
- H.8 Assets & Liabilities of Commercial Banks, with detailed weekly data and customizable downloads.
- Foreign exchange reference rates (H.10 weekly and G.5 monthly), with scheduled update times and public downloads.
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
European Central Bank (ECB)
Distinct strengths include:
- Public SDMX 2.1 REST API with access to the ECB Data Portal (data-api.ecb.europa.eu). Existing SDW endpoints continue to work with unchanged syntax.
- Flexible format support including SDMX-ML, SDMX-JSON, CSV, and pivot-table-optimized CSV. Supports HTTP compression for efficient transfers.
- Excel integration via Power Query using CSV endpoints or the application/vnd.ecb.data+csv MIME type.
- Bulk dataset downloads available directly from dataset pages, including CSV and SDMX 2.1 exports.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | European Central Bank (ECB) | Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data APIs, Calendar, News, Central Bank Watcher, Interest Rates, Yield Curves Unique: Inflation Rates, GDP, Unemployment Rates | Shared: Data APIs, Calendar, News, Central Bank Watcher, Interest Rates, Yield Curves |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Bonds, Currencies, Other | 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 | Free |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Yes |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do European Central Bank (ECB) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) both support?
Both platforms cover Data APIs, Calendar, News, Central Bank Watcher, Interest Rates, and Yield Curves workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do European Central Bank (ECB) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) require subscriptions?
Both European Central Bank (ECB) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access European Central Bank (ECB) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov)?
Both European Central Bank (ECB) and Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) 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?
European Central Bank (ECB) differentiates itself with Public SDMX 2.1 REST API with access to the ECB Data Portal (data-api.ecb.europa.eu). Existing SDW endpoints continue to work with unchanged syntax., Flexible format support including SDMX-ML, SDMX-JSON, CSV, and pivot-table-optimized CSV. Supports HTTP compression for efficient transfers., and Excel integration via Power Query using CSV endpoints or the application/vnd.ecb.data+csv MIME type., whereas Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) stands out for Data Download Program (DDP) with custom or preformatted packages, available in Excel, CSV, or XML., H.15 Selected Interest Rates, including daily Treasury constant-maturity yields., and H.4.1 Factors Affecting Reserve Balances (the Fed balance sheet), updated weekly every Thursday at 4:30 p.m..
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.