Frequently asked questions regarding BLS website data retrieval tools
How to print data on one page?
How to save output to a disk?
How to retrieve data for a single
period/month?
How to retrieve data for a single
period/year?
How to retrieve the annual average for one year
? (Note: Data must be available for the periods selected, otherwise an error
message will display, e.g., No Data.)
How to calculate Net Change from
Period/Year(s)? (Note: This feature does not apply to all databases.)
How to calculate Percent Change from
Period/Year(s)? (Note: This feature does not apply to all databases.)
How to copy BLS data tables to an Excel worksheet?
- On the File menu, click Print.
- Click "Preference" or "Properties"
button.
- Click "Advanced"tab or button.
- Select Graphic, then Scaling.
- Enter 80% or less in the "Scaling" box.
- Click the "OK" button.
- Click "OK" button again.
- Click the "Print" button.
(Note: These instructions may not support all printers due to manufacturer-specific
preferences that vary among print devices.)
- On the File menu, click Save Page As File.
- Double click the folder/directory you want to save the page.
- In the File Name box, type a name for the page.
- Select Web page, complete from the Save as type
drop-down menu.
- Click the "Save" button.
- After you retrieve the data,
- Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the
right-hand side of the data screen.
- Select a format option for which to view the data, e.g., Table format.
- Select one time period, e.g., January, under "Select
the time frame for your data".
- Select one of the listed options, e.g., HTML, under "Output Type".
- Click the "Retrieve Data" button.
- After you retrieve the data,
- Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the
right-hand side of the data screen.
- Select a format option for which to view the data, e.g., Table format.
- 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.
- Select "All Time Periods".
- Select one of the listed options, e.g., HTML, under "Output Type".
- Click the "Retrieve Data" button.
- After you retrieve the data,
- Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the
right-hand side of the data screen.
- Select a format option for which to view the data, e.g., Table format.
- Select "All years" or "Specify year range",
then select Annual Data, under "Select the time frame
for your data" .
- Select one of the listed options, e.g., HTML, under "Output Type".
- Click the "Retrieve Data" button.
(Note: This feature does not apply to all databases.)
Calculates and displays net change for a series for selected discrete
periods.
- After you retrieve the data,
- Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the
right-hand side of the data screen.
- Select a format option for which to view the data, e.g., Table format.
- Select your Net Change option(s), e.g., 1 Month Net Change.
- Select a time frame option under "Select the time frame for your
data".
- Select one of the listed options, e.g., HTML, under "Output Type".
- Click the "Retrieve Data" button.
(Note: This feature does not apply to all databases.)
Further formatting Options - Series Report Tool
Calculates and displays percent change for a
series for selected discrete periods.
- After you retrieve the data,
- Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the
right-hand side of the data screen.
- Select a format option for which to view the data, e.g., Table format.
- Select your Percent Change option(s), e.g., 1 Month Percent Change.
- Select a time frame option under "Select the time frame for your
data".
- Select one of the listed options, e.g., HTML, under "Output Type".
- Click the "Retrieve Data" button.
(Note: This feature does not apply to all databases.)
Further formatting Options - Series
Report Tool
- After you retrieve the data,
- Click the More Formatting options link at the top on the
right-hand side of the data screen.
- Select Column Format under Select view of
data, and then select your time frame.
- Select HTML table under Output Type.
(Note: Mac Safari users select Text and Tab Delimited)
- Click the "Retrieve Data" button.
- Highlight and Copy the data you have
just retrieved.
- Open a blank workbook in Excel.
- Paste your data into the spreadsheet and save
the file.
Last Modified Date: July 19, 2008