VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Monday, October 13, 2025

View U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)View World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org)Back to Home

Head-to-head

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 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

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) adds Calendar, and Education coverage that World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) skips.

World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) includes GDP, and Interest Rates categories that U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) omits.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 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)., 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..

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..

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ships a mobile app. World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) is web/desktop only.

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.

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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.

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Overlap

Shared focus areas

3 overlaps

Mutual strengths include Data APIs, Inflation Rates, and Unemployment Rates.

Where they differ

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Distinct strengths include:

Calendar

Education

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.

World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org)

Distinct strengths include:

GDP

Interest Rates

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	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)	World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org)
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets	Shared: Data APIs, Inflation Rates, Unemployment Rates Unique: Calendar, Education	Shared: Data APIs, Inflation Rates, Unemployment Rates Unique: GDP, Interest 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, Mobile	Web, API
Pricing High-level pricing models	Free	Free
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor	Unique 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. Mission/authority & confidentiality: Principal U.S. fact‑finding agency for labor economics; data collected and protected under CIPSEA and other federal laws.	Unique 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. SDMX API available, with data calls capped at roughly 15,000 datapoints per request.
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 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) both support?

Both platforms cover Data APIs, Inflation Rates, and Unemployment Rates workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Do U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) require subscriptions?

Both U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) 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 World Bank Open Data (data.worldbank.org) focuses on web or desktop access.

What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) differentiates itself with 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., 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..

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