Formats:

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: the data must be available for the periods that are 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 load data from the BLS website to an Excel spreadsheet?

To print data on one page: (Note: Applies to Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers.)

1. On the file menu, click Print.
2. Click Properties button.
3. Click Advanced tab.
4. Select Graphic, then Scaling
5. Enter 80% or less in the "Scaling" box
6. Click the OK button.
7. Click OK.

To save output to a disk: (Note: Save to disk only works with Netscape

1. On the File menu, click Save As File.
2. Double click the folder/directory you want to save the page in.
3. In the File Name box, type a name for the page.
4. Click Save.

To retrieve data for a single period/month:

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the Reformat button at the top of the data screen.
3. Select the format you would like to view the data.
4. Under "Select the time frame for your data", select one time period. Scroll down to see the months.
5. Under "Output Type", (select one of the listed options)
6. Click Retrieve data.

To retrieve data for a single year:

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the Reformat button at the top of the data screen.
3. Select the format you would like to view the data.
4. Under "Select the time frame for your data", select "Specify year range in the drop down boxes.

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

5. Select "All Time Periods"
6. Under "Output Type", (select one of the listed options)
7. Click Retrieve data.

To retrieve the Annual Average:

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the Reformat button at the top of the data screen.
3. Select the format you would like to view the data.
4. Under "Select the time frame for your data", select "All years" or "Specify year range", then select Annual Data.
5. Under "Output Type", (select one of the listed options)
6. Click Retrieve data.

To calculate Net Change: (Note: This feature does not apply to all databases.)

Calculates and displays net change for a series for selected discrete periods.

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the Reformat button at the top of the data screen.
3. Select the format you would like to view the data.
4. Under "Select the time frame for your data", make selection
5. Under "Output Type", (select one of the listed options)
6. Click Retrieve data.

To calculate Percent Change: (Note: This feature does not apply to all databases.)

Calculates and displays percent change for a series for selected discrete periods.

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the Reformat button at the top of the data screen.
3. Select the format you would like to view the data.
4. Under "Select the time frame for your data", make selection
5. Under "Output Type", (select one of the listed options)
6. Click Retrieve data.

To load data from the BLS website to an Excel spreadsheet:

1. After you retrieve the data,
2. Click the Reformat button.
3. After selecting how you would like to view your data and the time frame. Under Output type, select Text (tab delimited).
4. Click Retrieve Data.
5. Highlight and Copy the data you have just retrieved.
6. Open a new spreadsheet in Excel.
7. Paste your data into the spreadsheet and save the file.

Last Modified Date: November 01, 2002

Phone: (202) 691-5200
Fax-on-demand: (202) 691-6325
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Other comments: feedback@bls.gov