Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) adds Calendar, News, Central Bank Watcher, and Yield Curves coverage that World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Head-to-head
Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) vs World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) includes GDP, Inflation Rates, and Unemployment Rates categories that Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) omits.
Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) 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., and H.4.1 Factors Affecting Reserve Balances (the Fed balance sheet), updated weekly every Thursday at 4:30 p.m..
World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) is known for: Programmatic access to nearly 16,000 time-series indicators across 45+ databases, with many series spanning over 50 years., Indicators API requires no key and supports both JSON and XML responses with flexible query styles., and Query capacity includes up to 60 indicators per call, subject to URL length limits..
Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov)
federalreserve.gov
Hands-on review
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
Web
API
Pricing
Free
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.
Community votes (overall)
0% upvotes 0% downvotes
You haven't voted yet
World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org)
data.worldbank.org
Global macroeconomic and development indicators with fully open access. The Indicators API requires no API key, and the DataBank portal supports direct downloads in CSV, Excel, TXT, and SDMX. Most datasets are available under the CC BY 4.0 license, though a few third-party series carry different terms.
Platforms
Web
API
Pricing
Free
Quick highlights
- Programmatic access to nearly 16,000 time-series indicators across 45+ databases, with many series spanning over 50 years.
- Indicators API requires no key and supports both JSON and XML responses with flexible query styles.
- Query capacity includes up to 60 indicators per call, subject to URL length limits.
- DataBank offers one-click downloads in Excel, CSV, TXT, and SDMX, along with embeddable charts, maps, and tables.
- Individual indicator pages allow direct CSV, Excel, and XML exports.
Community votes (overall)
0% upvotes 0% downvotes
You haven't voted yet
Overlap
Shared focus areas
2 overlapsMutual strengths include Data APIs, and Interest Rates.
Where they differ
Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov)
Distinct strengths include:
- 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.
World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org)
Distinct strengths include:
- Programmatic access to nearly 16,000 time-series indicators across 45+ databases, with many series spanning over 50 years.
- Indicators API requires no key and supports both JSON and XML responses with flexible query styles.
- Query capacity includes up to 60 indicators per call, subject to URL length limits.
- DataBank offers one-click downloads in Excel, CSV, TXT, and SDMX, along with embeddable charts, maps, and tables.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) | World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data APIs, Interest Rates Unique: Calendar, News, Central Bank Watcher, Yield Curves | Shared: Data APIs, Interest Rates Unique: GDP, Inflation Rates, Unemployment Rates |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Bonds, Currencies, Other | 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 | Yes | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) and World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) both support?
Both platforms cover Data APIs, and Interest Rates workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) and World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) require subscriptions?
Both Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) and World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) and World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org)?
Both Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) and World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) 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?
Federal Reserve Board (FRB.gov) differentiates itself with 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., whereas World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) stands out for Programmatic access to nearly 16,000 time-series indicators across 45+ databases, with many series spanning over 50 years., Indicators API requires no key and supports both JSON and XML responses with flexible query styles., and Query capacity includes up to 60 indicators per call, subject to URL length limits..
Keep exploring
Stay on top of related tools
Browse the categories and profiles that overlap most with this comparison to round out your shortlist.
Related categories
Follow the same themes these tools compete in.
Recommended tools
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
- Trading EconomicsHands-on review
Overlap: Data APIs, News, and Calendar.
Data APIsNewsCalendar - European Central Bank (ECB)
Overlap: Data APIs, Calendar, and News.
Data APIsCalendarNews - Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)Editor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: Data APIs, News, and Calendar.
Data APIsNewsCalendar - GuruFocusEditor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: News, Calendar, and GDP.
NewsCalendarGDP - Alpha VantageHands-on review
Overlap: Data APIs, News, and Calendar.
Data APIsNewsCalendar - YChartsHands-on review
Overlap: News, Data APIs, and Inflation Rates.
NewsData APIsInflation Rates
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.