Monitoring the economy
Start with a dashboard when you want a repeatable monitoring view, then keep the calendar and news nearby for timing and releases.
Help
By task
Short paths for common jobs across the site.
Quick rules
Match the route to the job: indicators for a series, calendar for timing, dashboards for monitoring, macro for context.
Use Search when you know the topic but not the page yet.
Use the indicator page when you need source notes, history, downloads, or a widget entry point.
Use API & Data Access when the job is a public JSON route, a global connected-source search, a download URL, or an export boundary check.
Use model routes when the task needs explanation, scenarios, or data-driven projections.
Workflows
Common paths
Explaining what changed
Start with Macro when the question is broad, then move into History for precedent, Concepts for the measurement side, or Schools for the disagreement.
Projecting a series
Start with Data-Driven Models when the task is baseline direction, diagnostics, and projections from observed macro data.
Explaining a mechanism
Start with Theory-Based Models when the job is comparative statics, proof structure, or a small scenario comparison before moving to heavier model classes.
Finding or importing data
Check the indicators explorer first, then use Advanced Series Search only when you need the deeper connected-source workflow.