Add README and initial Python directory for project setup

README.md

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+# Lagged Oil vs. Unemployment Charting
+
+This repository provides two Python scripts to fetch the latest US Unemployment Rate (UNRATE) and WTI crude oil price (DCOILWTICO) from FRED, apply a configurable lag or lead to the oil series, and generate polished dual‑axis charts.
+
+## Files
+
+* **`lagged_oil_unrate_chart.py`**
+  A lightweight script that:
+
+  1. Downloads monthly UNRATE and averages daily WTI to monthly.
+  2. Shifts the oil series by `N` months (default = 18).
+  3. Plots both series on a dual‑axis Matplotlib chart.
+
+* **`lagged_oil_unrate_chart_styled.py`**
+  A more polished version that adds:
+
+  * Title, subtitle, footnote with date range and source.
+  * Clean dual‑axis styling with percentage and dollar‑format ticks.
+  * Customizable date range and extended x‑axis (e.g., 1973–2028).
+  * CLI flags for offset, start/end dates, and axis extension.
+
+* **`requirements.txt`**
+  Lists all Python dependencies for both scripts.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+* Python 3.7 or later
+* Internet connection (to fetch data from FRED)
+
+## Setup
+
+Clone or download this repository:
+
+```bash
+git clone https://your-repo-url.git
+cd your-repo-folder
+```
+
+### Create a Virtual Environment & Install Dependencies
+
+#### On Linux / macOS
+
+```bash
+# 1. Create a venv
+python3 -m venv venv
+
+# 2. Activate it
+source venv/bin/activate
+
+# 3. Upgrade pip and install requirements
+pip install --upgrade pip
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+#### On Windows (PowerShell)
+
+```powershell
+# 1. Create a venv
+python -m venv venv
+
+# 2. Activate it
+venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
+
+# 3. Upgrade pip and install requirements
+python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+> **Note:** If you get execution policy errors on Windows, you may need to run:
+>
+> ```powershell
+> Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
+> ```
+
+## Usage
+
+Once the virtual environment is active and dependencies are installed, run either script from the project root.
+
+### 1. Basic Lag Script
+
+```bash
+# Default: oil lags unemployment by 18 months (~1.5 years)
+python lagged_oil_unrate_chart.py
+
+# Other offsets (in months)
+python lagged_oil_unrate_chart.py --offset 6    # 6‑month lag
+python lagged_oil_unrate_chart.py --offset -12  # 12‑month lead
+```
+
+### 2. Styled & Configurable Chart
+
+```bash
+python lagged_oil_unrate_chart_styled.py \
+    --offset 18 \
+    --start 1973-01-01 \
+    --end 2025-05-31 \
+    --extend-years 3
+```
+
+| Flag               | Description                                                    |
+| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `--offset N`       | Lag (positive) or lead (negative) in months (default = 18)     |
+| `--start DATE`     | Series start date (`YYYY-MM-DD`, default = `1973-01-01`)       |
+| `--end DATE`       | Series end date (`YYYY-MM-DD`, default = today)                |
+| `--extend-years M` | How many years beyond `end` to extend the x‑axis (default = 3) |
+
+## Customization
+
+* **Normalization**: Insert a normalization step (e.g., percent change from a base date).
+* **Export**: Modify the script to save figures with `plt.savefig('chart.png', dpi=300)`.
+* **Statistics**: Add `ta.correl()` or use Pandas to compute rolling correlations.
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+* **"ModuleNotFoundError"**: Ensure your venv is activated, then reinstall dependencies.
+* **SSL/DataReader errors**: Upgrade `pandas_datareader` or switch to an alternate data source.
+
+## License
+
+This project is released under the MIT License.