IMF

Provider

• provider_name: IMF
• provider_longname: International Monetary Fund
• provider URL: http://www.imf.org/
• number of datasets: 9 datasets containing 17 databases currently in DBnomics + 2 datasets to be added
• terms of use: http://datahelp.imf.org/tos

Data accessibility

• SDMX: API SDMX-XML 2.0 et 2.1 (web service SOAP) see http://datahelp.imf.org/knowledgebase/articles/630877-data-services
• REST API: The JSON Data Service, http://datahelp.imf.org/knowledgebase/articles/667681-using-json-restful-web-service
• Bulk Download: yes, data + metadata available in CSV files
• Account: see https://git.nomics.world/cepremap-private/servers-and-services/blob/master/DBnomicsAccountsPasswords.md

Current datasets and databases

• BOPS

  • BOP
  • BOPAGG

• Commodity prices

  • COMMP
  • COMMPP

• CPIS

  • CPI
  • CPIS

• DOTS

  • DOT

• FSIs

  • FSI
  • FSIBS

• GFS

  • GFSCOFOG (can be downloaded in one shot with GFS bulk download )
  • GFSE (can be downloaded in one shot with GFS bulk download )
  • GFSFALCS (can be downloaded in one shot with GFS bulk download )
  • GFSMAB (can be downloaded in one shot with GFS bulk download )
  • GFSR (can be downloaded in one shot with GFS bulk download )
  • GFSSUC (can be downloaded in one shot with GFS bulk download )
  • GFSIBS

• IFS

  • IFS

• WEO

  • WEO
  • WEO-GROUPS: no need to separate this data set (part of WEO)

Datasets and databases

• There is a difference between databases available with the API (http://dataservices.imf.org/REST/SDMX_JSON.svc/Dataflow) and the datasets identified at http://www.imf.org/en/data. There maybe several databases for a single dataset (as above).

Desired datasets

• CDIS
• IRFCL
• ICSD
• HPDD

Data tree

• Existence of a hierarchy of datasets on web site: Yes but only one level at http://www.imf.org/en/data. Multiple databases used for the same dataset in the API can be sees as a second level of the data hierarchy if we decide to use the API

Datasets

• datasetCode: provided, see above
• how to get release date: can be found on dataset HTML page
• dataset docHref: yes provided on dataset HTML page
• dataset notes: no
• dimension_list: provided in bulk download metadata CSV file
• use of attributes: no. The term "Attribute" may be used as series note
• attribute_list:
• available frequencies: Annual, Quarterly, Monthly
• availability of previous updates: yes for several datasets
• existence of real time datasets: NO

Series

• Series key: must be constructed by concatenating the dimension codes
• Series name: must be constructed by concatenating the dimension labels
• Series docHref: NO
• Series notes: Sometimes, called "Attribute"
• missing values: empty cell in CSV file
• date format: yyyy, yyyyQa, yyyyMm
• mixed frequencies in the same dataset: yes, annual observations may be interlaced with higher frequency observations

Updates

• calendar of future updates: No
• summary of previous upudates: see dataset HTML page
• regular updates: yes for some datasets
• RSS flow: http://www.imf.org/external/rss/rsslist/rsslist.aspx
• best way to monitor updates: visit HTML pages once a day

Special problems

Creating an account for bulk downloading is necessary. Downloading from the bulk download is asynchonous. IMF sends an email with URL to download a file

Other remarks

Data samples

• location: in test_imf file
• description:

Web API

Quick notes to remember useful URLs:

• http://dataservices.imf.org/REST/SDMX_JSON.svc/Dataflow
• http://dataservices.imf.org/REST/SDMX_JSON.svc/DataStructure/CDIS
• http://dataservices.imf.org/REST/SDMX_JSON.svc/CompactData/CDIS/A.AF.IIWDA_DV_BP6_USD The series code can omit some dimensions like explained on this page