[Federal Register: May 16, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 94)]
[Notices]               
[Page 28301-28302]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: 2007 Economic Census Covering the Wholesale Trade Sector.
    Form Number(s): WH-42301 through WH-42503 (42 report forms in 
total).
    Agency Approval Number: None.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden: 675,000 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 450,000.
    Avg Hours per Response: 1.5 hours.
    Needs and Uses: The 2007 Economic Census covering the Wholesale 
Trade sector will use a mail canvass, supplemented by data from Federal 
administrative records, to measure the economic activity of more than 
450,000 wholesale establishments classified in the North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS).
    The Wholesale Trade sector comprises establishments primarily 
engaged in the selling or arranging the purchase or sale of durable 
nonconsumer goods, selling goods for resale, and the sale of other 
goods from establishments that operate from a warehouse or office and 
do not normally advertise directly to the general public. The economic 
census will produce basic statistics by kind of business on number of 
establishments, sales, payroll, employment, inventories, and operating 
expenses. It also will yield a variety of subject statistics, including 
sales by product line; sales by class of customer; employment by 
primary function; measures of gross margin and gross profit; and other 
industry-specific measures, such as bulk storage capacity by type of 
facility for petroleum bulk stations and terminals. Basic statistics 
will be summarized for the United States, states, metropolitan areas, 
counties, and places. Tabulations of subject statistics also will 
present data for the United States and, in some cases, for states.
    The economic census is the primary source of facts about the 
structure and functioning of the Nation's economy and features unique 
industry and geographic detail. Economic census statistics serve as 
part of the framework for the national accounts and provide essential 
information for government, business, and the general public. The 
Federal Government uses information from the economic census as an 
important part of the framework for the national income and product 
accounts, input-output tables, economic indexes, and other composite 
measures that serve as the factual basis for economic policy-making, 
planning, and program administration. Further, the census provides 
sampling frames and benchmarks for current surveys of business which 
track short-term economic trends, serve as economic

[[Page 28302]]

indicators, and contribute critical source data for current estimates 
of gross domestic product. State and local governments rely on the 
economic census as a unique source of comprehensive economic statistics 
for small geographic areas for use in policy-making, planning, and 
program administration. Finally, industry, business, academe, and the 
general public use information from the economic census for evaluating 
markets, preparing business plans, making business decisions, 
developing economic models and forecasts, conducting economic research, 
and establishing benchmarks for their own sample surveys.
    If the economic census were not conducted, the Federal Government 
would lose vital source data and benchmarks for the national accounts, 
input-output tables, and other composite measures of economic activity, 
causing a substantial degradation in the quality of these important 
statistics. Further, the government would lose critical benchmarks for 
current sample-based economic surveys and an essential source of 
detailed, comprehensive economic information for use in policy-making, 
planning, and program administration.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or 
households; Not-for-profit institutions; State, local or Tribal 
government.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 13 U.S.C. 131 and 224.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
dhynek@doc.gov).

    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-
mail (susan_schechter@omb.eop.gov).

    Dated: May 11, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-7421 Filed 5-15-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P