blsAPI (version 0.2.1)

blsAPI: Request Data from the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics API

Description

Allows users to request data for one or multiple series through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics API. Users provide parameters as specified in <https://www.bls.gov/developers/api_signature.htm> and the function returns a JSON string or data frame.

Usage

blsAPI(payload = NA, api_version = 1, return_data_frame = FALSE)

Arguments

payload

a string or a list containing data to be sent to the API.

api_version

an integer for which api version you want to use (i.e. 1 for v1, 2 for v2)

return_data_frame

a boolean if you want to the function to return JSON (default) or a data frame. If the data frame option is used, the series id will be added as a column. This is helpful if multiple series are selected.

Details

See <https://www.bls.gov/developers/> and <https://www.bls.gov/developers/api_signature.htm> for more details on the payload.

Examples

# NOT RUN {
# These examples are taken from <https://www.bls.gov/developers/api_signature.htm>
library(rjson)
library(blsAPI)

# API Version 1.0 R Script Sample Code
# Single Series request
response <- blsAPI('LAUCN040010000000005')
json <- fromJSON(response)
# }
# NOT RUN {
# Multiple Series
payload <- list('seriesid'=c('LAUCN040010000000005','LAUCN040010000000006'))
response <- blsAPI(payload)
json <- fromJSON(response)

# One or More Series, Specifying Years
payload <- list(
 'seriesid'=c('LAUCN040010000000005','LAUCN040010000000006'),
 'startyear'=2010,
 'endyear'=2012)
response <- blsAPI(payload)
json <- fromJSON(response)

# API Version 2.0 R Script Sample Code
# Single Series
response <- blsAPI('LAUCN040010000000005', 2)
json <- fromJSON(response)
# Or request a data frame
df <- blsAPI('LAUCN040010000000005', 2, TRUE)

# Multiple Series
payload <- list('seriesid'=c('LAUCN040010000000005','LAUCN040010000000006'))
response <- blsAPI(payload, 2)
json <- fromJSON(response)

# One or More Series with Optional Parameters
payload <- list(
  'seriesid'=c('LAUCN040010000000005','LAUCN040010000000006'),
  'startyear'=2010,
  'endyear'=2012,
  'catalog'=FALSE,
  'calculations'=TRUE,
  'annualaverage'=TRUE,
  'registrationKey'='995f4e779f204473aa565256e8afe73e')
response <- blsAPI(payload, 2)
json <- fromJSON(response)
# }