[Federal Register: November 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 212)]
[Notices]
[Page 57144]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04no09-30]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
[Docket Number 0909231319-91320-01]
Annual Retail Trade Survey
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of determination.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) publishes this notice
to announce that the Director has determined the need to conduct the
Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS). Through this survey, the Census
Bureau will collect data covering annual sales, e-commerce sales, year-
end inventories held inside and outside the United States, total
operating expenses, purchases, accounts receivables, and for selected
industries merchandise line sales, percent of sales by class of
customer, and percent of e-commerce sales to customers located outside
the United States.
ADDRESSES: The Census Bureau will furnish report forms to organizations
included in the survey. Additional copies are available upon written
request to the Director, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-0101.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aneta Erdie, Service Sector Statistics
Division, at (301) 763-4841 or by e-mail at aneta.erdie@census.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ARTS is a continuation of similar retail
trade surveys conducted each year since 1951 (except 1954). It
provides, on a comparable classification basis, annual sales, e-
commerce sales, purchases, total operating expenses, accounts
receivables, and year-end inventories held inside and outside the
United States for 2009. The Census Bureau has determined that the
conduct of this survey is necessary as these data are not available
publicly on a timely basis from non-governmental or other governmental
sources.
The Census Bureau will require a selected sample of firms operating
retail, accommodation, and food services establishments in the United
States to report in the 2009 ARTS. Companies are selected for this
survey using a stratified random sample based on annual sales size with
a company's probability of selection increasing with their annual sales
size. We will furnish report forms to the firms covered by this survey
in January 2010 and will require their submissions within 30 days after
receipt. The sample of firms selected will provide, with measurable
reliability, statistics on annual sales, e-commerce sales, purchases,
total operating expenses, accounts receivables, and year-end
inventories held both inside and outside the United States for 2009.
Sections 182, 224, and 225 of Title 13 of the United States Code
authorizes the Census Bureau to take surveys that are necessary to
furnish current data on the subjects covered by the major censuses. As
part of this authorization, the Census Bureau conducts the ARTS to
provide continuing and timely national statistical data on retail
trade, and accommodation and food services activity for the period
between economic censuses. For 2009, the survey will, as it has in the
past, operate as a sample of retail, accommodation, and food services
companies. The data collected in this survey will be similar to that
collected in the past and within the general scope and nature of those
inquiries covered in the economic census. These data are collected to
provide a sound statistical basis for the formation of policy by
various government agencies. These data will be available for use for a
variety of public and business needs such as economic and market
analysis, company performance, and forecasting future demand.
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 the requirements
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of
information displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. In accordance with the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521,
OMB approved the Annual Retail Trade Survey under OMB Control Number
0607-0013.
Based upon the foregoing, I have directed that an annual survey be
conducted for the purpose of collecting these data.
Dated: October 28, 2009.
Robert M. Groves,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. E9-26558 Filed 11-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P