[Federal Register: November 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 219)]
[Notices]
[Page 69310-69311]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15no05-20]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
[Docket Number 050728205-5287-02]
RIN 0607-AA45
Annual Trade Survey
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of determination.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is expanding the 2005
Annual Trade Survey (ATS) to include agents, brokers, and electronic
markets (AGBR). The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has requested the
expansion. The BEA considers this information vital to its accurate
measurement of sales and value added for wholesale trade. These data
are important inputs to BEA's preparation of National Income and
Product accounts and its annual input-output tables.
EFFECTIVE DATES: The Census Bureau adopts the expanded ATS as of
November 15, 2005.
ADDRESSES: The Census Bureau will furnish report forms to respondents
included in the survey, and additional copies are available upon
written request to the Director, Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-
0101.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John R. Trimble, Chief, Annual
Wholesale and Special Projects Branch, Service Sector Statistics
Division, on (301) 763-7223 or by e-mail at John.R.Trimble@census.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Census Bureau is authorized to conduct
surveys necessary to furnish current data on subjects covered by the
major censuses authorized by Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.),
Sections 182, 224, and 225. Reporting by AGBR offices will be mandatory
and will provide continuing and timely national statistical data. Data
collected in this survey will be within the general scope, type, and
character of those inquiries covered in the Economic Census.
The current ATS collects data for all merchant wholesalers,
including manufacturers' sales branches and offices (MSBO). The
expanded survey will include a selected sample of AGBRs that facilitate
sales between businesses
[[Page 69311]]
in the United States. These data will be a vital source for accurately
measuring the sales, commissions, sales arranged for others, e-
commerce, and operating expenses of these types of companies. The BEA
has made repeated requests for this information. The expanded ATS will
cover all sales from the wholesale sector compared to about 90 percent
of sales in the present ATS sample.
Beginning with the survey year 2005, the goal will be to maximize
industry coverage within our available resources. In order to establish
reporting arrangements and reduce respondent burden, we will mail
report forms to a sample of firms on a company basis and contact them
in person, as well as by phone and mail. We will mail firms in the
survey an introduction letter, report forms, and a flyer instructing
them how to reply electronically. We request that forms be completed
and returned 30 days after receipt. The report forms will request
similar data items, but different forms will be used to accommodate
wholesale distributors, MSBO, and AGBR companies, as well as both large
and small firms. Later, if necessary, additional mail follow-ups and
telephone follow-ups will be conducted.
The primary users of these data are federal, state, and local
government agencies, including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, and BEA. Other users include business firms, academics,
trade associations, and research and consulting organizations.
On September 20, 2005 (70 FR 55104), the Census Bureau published in
the Federal Register a notice and request for comments on the expansion
of the ATS. We received two comments that were not responsive to the
solicitation. Accordingly, the Census Bureau is adopting, without
change, its proposal to include agents, broker, and electronic markets
in the 2005 Annual Trade Survey.
Executive Order 12866
This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration that this notice would not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for
this certification was published in the earlier notice and request for
comment (09/20/05; 70 FR 55104). No comments were received regarding
the economic impact of that notice. As a result, no final regulatory
flexibility analysis was prepared.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure
to comply with, a collection of information subject to requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information
displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control
number. This notice contains a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). In accordance with
the PRA, OMB approved on September 21, 2005, with control number 0607-
0195, the collection of all information associated with this notice. We
estimate the number of additional respondents to be 390 and estimate an
additional 677 annual burden hours with this expanded data collection.
Also, we estimate that the time for the additional responses associated
with this data collection will be approximately 28 minutes. We will
furnish report forms to organizations included in the survey, and
additional copies will be available upon written request to the
Director, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-0101.
Dated: November 9, 2005.
Charles Louis Kincannon,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 05-22598 Filed 11-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P