Foresight API concepts

The API normalizes source-specific economic data into indicators, observations, regions, and revisions.

Indicators

An indicator is a named time series such as UNRATE. Indicator records include source, category, unit, frequency, default region, and available regions.

Observations

Observations are dated values for an indicator and region. The observations API returns period_start, period_end, period_type, value, revision, is_preliminary, and source_updated_at.

Regions

Regions identify geography. National series commonly use US; county and subnational regions use FIPS-style codes where applicable.

Revisions and preliminary values

By default, observation queries return the latest revision for each period. Use include_revisions=true when you need revision history. Preliminary source releases are marked with is_preliminary.

The cf:* derived layer

Creative Foresight original indicators use cf:* codes and the creative-foresight category. These are derived series no provider publishes directly, with recipe provenance that preserves the source indicators, transforms, and lineage behind each result.