Frequently asked questions regarding BLS website data retrieval tools

To print data on one page:

Supported Browsers
Windows			Mac

1. On theFile menu, clickPrint.
2. Click“Preference” or“Properties” button.
3. Click“Advanced”tab or button.
4. SelectGraphic, 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.)

To save output to a disk:

Supported Browsers
Windows			Mac

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

To retrieve data for a single period/month:

Supported Browsers
Windows			Mac

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click theMore 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. Selectone 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.

To retrieve data for a single year:

Supported Browsers
Windows			Mac

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click theMore 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.

To retrieve the Annual Average:

Supported Browsers
Windows			Mac

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click theMore 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 selectAnnual 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.

To calculate NET Change:

Supported Browsers
Windows			Mac

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., theSeries Report tool.
   (By default, the tool retrieves the last ten (10) years up to the current period.)
2. Click the "Next" button.
3. 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.
4. Select a time for your data, e.g.,All Time Periods.(Optional)
5. Specify the year range, if it is something other than the default, or select one time period, e.g., June.(Optional)
6. Click the "include graph" checkbox (you must select at least two years).(Optional)
7. Select one of the other output items, e.g., HTML Tables, if you desire.
8. Click the "Retrieve Data" button.

Note: This feature does not apply to all surveys.

To calculate PERCENT Change:

Supported Browsers
Windows			Mac

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., theTop 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.)

To save your query to an Excel worksheet:

Supported Browsers
Windows			Mac

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click on the ".xls" link at the top left-hand side of the output table.
3. Click on the "Save" button.

For Additional Formatting:

1. Retrieve your data using one of the manyBLS data retrieval tools.
2. Click the "More Formatting options" link near the top on the right-hand side of the output page.
   
   

   

3. Select any one of the choices to view your data on the Formatting Options page.
   
   

   

4. SelectHTML table underOutput Type.
   

   
   (Note: This option isNOT supported forText Output Types -Comma orTab Delimited)

5. Click the "Retrieve Data" button.
6. Click on the ".xls" link at the top left-hand side of the output table..
   
   

   

7. Click on the "Save" button.
   

   

Last Modified Date:April 30, 2010