Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@mcp-fredWhat is the current US unemployment rate?"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
mcp-fred
An MCP server that wraps the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) API for AI agents.
Access GDP, unemployment, inflation, interest rates, and 800,000+ economic time series directly from your AI assistant.
Tools
Tool | Description |
| Search for economic data series by keyword |
| Get metadata for a specific series (e.g. GDP, UNRATE) |
| Get data points with optional date range, units, and frequency |
| Browse the FRED category tree |
| Get economic data releases and schedules |
| Get recently updated/popular series |
Setup
1. Get a free FRED API key
Create a free account (or sign in)
Request an API key — it's instant and free
2. Install and build
3. Configure your MCP client
Add to your MCP client config (e.g. Claude Desktop claude_desktop_config.json):
Examples
Once connected, ask your AI agent things like:
"What's the current US unemployment rate?"
"Show me GDP growth over the last 5 years"
"Search for inflation-related series"
"What economic data releases are coming up?"
"Compare CPI and PCE price indices"
Rate Limits
The FRED API allows 120 requests per minute. The client enforces this automatically.
Development
License
MIT