Bring economic data into Cursor

Q: Can Cursor load my key from an envFile?

No, remote servers in Cursor do not support envFile. Set the variable in your shell profile or system environment and reference it as ${env:NARWHAL_API_KEY} in the header.

Cursor can call Narwhal through a remote MCP server, with one API key and quota shared across REST and MCP. Store the key in your environment before starting Cursor, then ask for economic data while you work. The same connection includes currency rates, commodity data and the other live tool groups.

Quick start

Get your free key from https://narwhalapi.com/signup.
Set NARWHAL_API_KEY in your shell profile or system environment before starting Cursor.
Add the remote server configuration to .cursor/mcp.json for this project or ~/.cursor/mcp.json for all projects.
Enable Narwhal under Customize in the sidebar and check Available Tools.

MCP configuration

The remote entry uses url and headers, with ${env:NARWHAL_API_KEY} in the Authorization header. Cursor reads that reference from its environment; remote MCP servers do not support envFile.

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "narwhal": {
      "url": "https://api.narwhalapi.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${env:NARWHAL_API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Keep the configuration in the project file or the user file for the scope you need. After changing the system or shell environment, restart Cursor so the process has the key before it connects.

Tools you get

Cursor gets every read-only tool group through one Narwhal connection. Initialization and tool discovery cost no quota, while each successful tool call uses one request from the same allowance as REST.

Group	What you can ask for	Tools
Economic indicators	Ask for CPI, inflation, unemployment, labour force participation, GDP, GDP growth and trade by country; coverage differs by indicator.	`economics_get_cpi` `economics_get_inflation` `economics_get_unemployment` `economics_get_labour_force_participation` `economics_get_gdp` `economics_get_gdp_growth` `economics_get_trade` `economics_get_cpi_history` `economics_get_inflation_history` `economics_get_unemployment_history` `economics_get_labour_force_participation_history` `economics_get_gdp_history` `economics_get_gdp_growth_history` `economics_get_trade_history` `economics_read_series_observations`
Currency rates	Ask for current exchange rates, historical rates, currency conversions and rate bars for a currency pair.	`fx_get_rates` `fx_get_rate_history` `fx_convert_currency` `fx_get_rate_bars`
Commodity prices	Ask for spot prices for gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, WTI crude oil, and Brent crude oil, their price history, and physical palm oil prices (crude palm oil and fresh fruit bunches).	`commodities_get_spot_price` `commodities_get_price_history` `commodities_list_palmoil_physical_series` `commodities_get_palmoil_physical_price` `commodities_get_palmoil_physical_observations` `commodities_list_physical_series` `commodities_get_physical_series` `commodities_get_physical_latest` `commodities_get_physical_observations`
Releases and events	Ask for official economic release dates and event details before you plan a country briefing.	`economics_list_releases` `economics_get_release` `events_list` `events_get`
Public holidays	Ask for public holidays by country, holidays on a particular date or the next holiday.	`calendars_list_holidays` `calendars_get_holidays_on_date` `calendars_get_next_holiday`
Prediction market odds	Ask for prediction market topics and events with scalar, extreme, timing and binary outcomes, their history, and policy paths by authority.	`predictions_list_topics` `predictions_get_topic` `predictions_list_events` `predictions_get_scalar` `predictions_get_extreme` `predictions_get_timing` `predictions_get_binary` `predictions_get_scalar_history` `predictions_get_extreme_history` `predictions_get_timing_history` `predictions_get_binary_history` `predictions_get_policy_path` `predictions_get_policy_path_history`
Government bond yields	Ask for government bond yield curves for the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, and Canada through the same Narwhal connection.	`economics_get_yield_curve` `economics_get_yield_curve_history`

Example prompts

Get the latest unemployment value for Canada.
Show the current GBP/USD exchange rate.
Get the available palm oil price history.
Find the next official CPI release date for the United States.
List the public holidays in Japan for the current year.

Common workflows

Trace Canadian unemployment by period

Ask Cursor for Canada's unemployment observations with economics_get_unemployment_history in the economics group. The history lists observations by period.

Check a rate before a conversion

Is the current GBP/USD rate what you need? Call fx_get_rates with GBP as the base and USD as the quote currency.

Inspect palm oil history in Cursor

Ask Cursor to find a palm oil series using commodities_list_palmoil_physical_series, then read its period observations with commodities_get_palmoil_physical_observations and the selected series ID.

Plan a briefing around release dates

Plan the briefing with economics_list_releases: select the United States and a window no longer than 366 days. The entries include scheduled release dates and times.

Tips

Ask for a tool by name when you want Cursor to use a particular operation, or describe the data you need and check Available Tools.
Keep the actual key out of .cursor/mcp.json by using the environment reference in the header, including when the project file is shared.
Open the Output panel with Cmd+Shift+U and select MCP Logs when you need the connection error details.
Use Customize in the sidebar to enable, disable or manage the Narwhal server as your project needs change.

FAQ

How do I connect Cursor to Narwhal MCP?

Add a remote server entry with the Narwhal URL and Authorization Bearer header to your Cursor MCP configuration. Set NARWHAL_API_KEY before starting Cursor, then enable the server and inspect Available Tools.

Can Cursor load my key from an envFile?

No, remote servers in Cursor do not support envFile. Set the variable in your shell profile or system environment and reference it as ${env:NARWHAL_API_KEY} in the header.

What does a Narwhal call cost in Cursor?

Each successful tool call uses one request, and discovery uses no quota. The free plan includes 5,000 successful requests per UTC month with a short-window limit of 30 requests per minute.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Check
Narwhal does not show under Available Tools	Check the project or user `.cursor/mcp.json`, then enable the server under Customize in the sidebar.
Connection returns `401 invalid_api_key`	Check that `NARWHAL_API_KEY` contains an active key in the environment that starts Cursor, then restart Cursor.
The remote server cannot read an envFile	Move the variable to your shell profile or system environment and use `${env:NARWHAL_API_KEY}` in the Authorization header.
The connection fails after editing the URL	Use exactly https://api.narwhalapi.com/mcp without a trailing slash, then inspect MCP Logs in the Output panel.