Frequently asked questions regarding BLS website data retrieval tools

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To print data on one page:

1. On the File menu, click Print.
2. Click “Preference” or “Properties” button.
3. Click “Advanced”tab or button.
4. Select Graphic, then Scaling.
5. Enter 80% or less in the “Scaling” box.
6. Click the “OK” button.
7. Click “OK“ button again.
8. Click the “Print” button.

(Note: These instructions may not support all printers due to manufacturer-specific preferences that vary among print devices.)

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To save output to a disk:

1. On the File menu, click Save Page As File.
2. Double click the folder/directory you want to save the page.
3. In the File Name box, type a name for the page.
4. Select Web page, complete from the Save as type drop-down menu.
5. Click the “Save” button.

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To retrieve data for a single period/month:

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the right-hand side of the data screen.
3. Select a format option for which to view the data, e.g., Table format.
4. Select one time period, e.g., January, under “Select the time frame for your data“.
5. Select one of the listed options, e.g., HTML, under “Output Type”.
6. Click the “Retrieve Data” button.

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To retrieve data for a single year:

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the right-hand side of the data screen.
3. Select a format option for which to view the data, e.g., Table format.
4. Select “Specify year range” in the drop-down menu under “Select the time frame for your data”.

   For example, enter 1994-1994, to get data for 1994.

5. Select “All Time Periods”.
6. Select one of the listed options, e.g., HTML, under “Output Type”.
7. Click the “Retrieve Data” button.

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To retrieve the Annual Average:

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the right-hand side of the data screen.
3. Select a format option for which to view the data, e.g., Table format.
4. Select “All years” or “Specify year range”, then select Annual Data, under “Select the time frame for your data” .
5. Select one of the listed options, e.g., HTML, under “Output Type”.
6. Click the “Retrieve Data” button.

Note: This feature does not apply to all databases. Data must be available for the periods selected, otherwise an error message will display, e.g., No Data.

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To calculate NET Change:

Calculates and displays NET CHANGE for a series for selected discrete periods or 1 year.

1. Retrieve your data using any BLS data retrieval tool, e.g., the Series Report tool.
   (By default, the tool retrieves the last ten (10) years up to the current period.)
2. Click the "Retrieve Data" button.
3. Click on the “More Formatting Options” link.
4. For Net Change, select the view for your data, e.g., “1 Month Net Change,”
   “3 Months Net Change,” or “12 months Net Change” for the entire year.
5. Select a time for your data, e.g., All Time Periods.(Optional)
6. Specify the year range, if it is something other than the default, or select one time period, e.g., June.(Optional)
7. Click the "include graph" checkbox (you must select at least two years).(Optional)
8. Select one of the other output items, e.g., HTML Tables, if you desire.
9. Click the "Retrieve Data" button.

Note: This feature does not apply to all surveys.

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To calculate PERCENT Change:

Calculates and displays PERCENT CHANGE for a series for selected discrete periods or 1 year.

1. Retrieve your data using any BLS data retrieval tool, e.g., the Top Picks tool.
   (By default, the tool retrieves the last ten (10) years up to the current period.)
2. Click the "Retrieve Data" button.
3. Click on the “More Formatting Options” link.
4. For Percent Change, select the view for your data, e.g., “1 Month Percent Change,”
   “3 Months Percent Change,” or “12 months Percent Change” for the entire year.
5. Select a time for your data, e.g., All Time Periods.(Optional)
6. Specify the year range, if it is something other than the default, or select one time period, e.g., June.(Optional)
7. Click the “include graph” checkbox (you must select at least two years).(Optional)
8. Select one of the other output items, e.g., HTML Tables, if you desire.
9. Click the “Retrieve Data” button.

(Note: This feature does not apply to all surveys.)

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To copy BLS data tables to an Excel worksheet:

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the right-hand side of the data screen.
3. Select Column Format under Select view of data, and then select your time frame.
4. Select HTML table under Output Type. (Note: Mac Safari users select Text and Tab Delimited)
5. Click the “Retrieve Data” button.
6. Highlight and Copy the data you have just retrieved.
7. Open a blank workbook in Excel.
8. Paste your data into the spreadsheet and save the file.

 

Last Modified Date: June 29, 2009