Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) adds Data Visualizations, Shipping & Trade, and Blogs coverage that U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Monday, October 13, 2025
Head-to-head
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) vs U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) includes Calendar, Inflation Rates, and Unemployment Rates categories that Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) omits.
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) highlights: Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification., Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans., and Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs..
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is known for: Public Data API v2: JSON and Excel (.xlsx) output; single or batched series; optional calculations, annual averages, aspects & catalog metadata for registered users., Usage limits (v2): up to 50 series per query, up to 20 years per query, ~50 requests per 10 seconds; daily cap 500 queries (registered) or 25 (unregistered)., and Data Tools: Series Report (direct series ID lookup), Top Picks, One‑screen/Multi‑screen table builders, Data Finder, charts for news releases, CPI Inflation Calculator..
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) offers mobile access, which Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) skips.
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
oec.world
A global trade and economic complexity platform with rich visualizations, country and product rankings, and an API. Pro plans unlock the latest monthly and subnational datasets, while Premium adds company-level Bill of Lading data and bulk downloads. Academic discounts and enterprise options with SSO support are also available.
Platforms
Web
API
Pricing
Free
Subscription
Quick highlights
- Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification.
- Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans.
- Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs.
- REST API with a free tier for historical data and Pro/Premium tokens for the latest datasets, subnational access, and higher query volumes.
- Data downloads in CSV, Excel, or JSON, with bulk access and larger query limits available for subscribers.
Community votes (overall)
0% upvotes 0% downvotes
You haven't voted yet
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
bls.gov
Primary U.S. source for official labor‑market, inflation and productivity statistics. Offers a free Public Data API (v2) with JSON/XLSX responses, extensive web data tools (Series Report, Top Picks, Data Finder), and an official release calendar with RSS/iCal. Coverage spans CPI/PPI/Import‑Export prices, Employment Situation (payrolls & unemployment rate), JOLTS, ECI, productivity, QCEW and more. Registered API users get higher limits and can request calculations and catalog metadata.
Platforms
Web
API
Mobile
Pricing
Free
Quick highlights
- Public Data API v2: JSON and Excel (.xlsx) output; single or batched series; optional calculations, annual averages, aspects & catalog metadata for registered users.
- Usage limits (v2): up to 50 series per query, up to 20 years per query, ~50 requests per 10 seconds; daily cap 500 queries (registered) or 25 (unregistered).
- Data Tools: Series Report (direct series ID lookup), Top Picks, One‑screen/Multi‑screen table builders, Data Finder, charts for news releases, CPI Inflation Calculator.
- Official release schedules & feeds: per‑release pages (e.g., Employment Situation) show dates/times (typically 8:30 a.m. ET); global calendar with RSS and iCal (ICS) subscription.
- Mobile: “BLS Local Data” app for iOS/Android surfaces local labor market stats (states, metros, counties) and includes QCEW content.
Community votes (overall)
0% upvotes 0% downvotes
You haven't voted yet
Overlap
Shared focus areas
2 overlapsMutual strengths include Data APIs, and Education.
Where they differ
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
Distinct strengths include:
- Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification.
- Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans.
- Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs.
- REST API with a free tier for historical data and Pro/Premium tokens for the latest datasets, subnational access, and higher query volumes.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Distinct strengths include:
- Public Data API v2: JSON and Excel (.xlsx) output; single or batched series; optional calculations, annual averages, aspects & catalog metadata for registered users.
- Usage limits (v2): up to 50 series per query, up to 20 years per query, ~50 requests per 10 seconds; daily cap 500 queries (registered) or 25 (unregistered).
- Data Tools: Series Report (direct series ID lookup), Top Picks, One‑screen/Multi‑screen table builders, Data Finder, charts for news releases, CPI Inflation Calculator.
- Official release schedules & feeds: per‑release pages (e.g., Employment Situation) show dates/times (typically 8:30 a.m. ET); global calendar with RSS and iCal (ICS) subscription.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data APIs, Education Unique: Data Visualizations, Shipping & Trade, Blogs | Shared: Data APIs, Education Unique: Calendar, Inflation Rates, Unemployment Rates |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | 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, Mobile |
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 Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) both support?
Both platforms cover Data APIs, and Education workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) require subscriptions?
Both Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
Which tool has mobile access?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ships a dedicated mobile experience, while Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) focuses on web or desktop access.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) differentiates itself with Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification., Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans., and Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs., whereas U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) stands out for Public Data API v2: JSON and Excel (.xlsx) output; single or batched series; optional calculations, annual averages, aspects & catalog metadata for registered users., Usage limits (v2): up to 50 series per query, up to 20 years per query, ~50 requests per 10 seconds; daily cap 500 queries (registered) or 25 (unregistered)., and Data Tools: Series Report (direct series ID lookup), Top Picks, One‑screen/Multi‑screen table builders, Data Finder, charts for news releases, CPI Inflation Calculator..
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.
- FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
Overlap: Data APIs, Calendar, and Data Visualizations.
Data APIsCalendarData Visualizations - Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)Editor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: Data APIs, Calendar, and Unemployment Rates.
Data APIsCalendarUnemployment Rates - StockopediaEditor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: Data Visualizations, Calendar, and Education.
Data VisualizationsCalendarEducation - Alpha VantageHands-on review
Overlap: Data APIs, Calendar, and Inflation Rates.
Data APIsCalendarInflation Rates - ORTEXHands-on review
Overlap: Data Visualizations, Calendar, and Data APIs.
Data VisualizationsCalendarData APIs - Trading EconomicsHands-on review
Overlap: Data APIs, Calendar, and Inflation Rates.
Data APIsCalendarInflation 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.