[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 770-771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Monthly
Wholesale Trade Survey
AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on
or before March 7, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet
at [email protected]).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to John Miller, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8K081,
Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-2758.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey (MWTS) provides the only
continuous measure of monthly sales, end-of-month inventories, and
inventories/sales ratios in the United States by selected kinds of
business for merchant wholesalers, excluding manufacturers' sales
branches and offices. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses this
information to improve the inventory valuation adjustments applied to
estimates of the Gross Domestic Product. The Bureau of Labor Statistics
uses the data as input to their Producer Price Indexes and in
developing productivity measurements.
Estimates produced from the MWTS are based on a probability sample
and are published on the North American Industry Classification System
(NAICS) basis. The sample design consists of small, medium, and large
cases requested to report sales and inventories each month. The sample,
consisting of about 4,500 wholesale businesses, is drawn from the
Business Register, which contains all Employer Identification Numbers
(EINs) and listed establishment locations. The sample is updated
quarterly to reflect employer business ``births'' and ``deaths'';
adding new employer businesses identified in
[[Page 771]]
the Business and Professional Classification Survey and deleting firms
and EINs when it is determined they are no longer active.
The MWTS will continue to generate its monthly report form through
a print-on demand system. This system allows us to tailor the survey
instrument to a specific industry. For example, it will print an
additional instruction for a particular NAICS code. This system also
reduces the time and cost of preparing mailout packages that contain
unique variable data, while improving the look and quality of the
products produced.
II. Method of Collection
We collect this information by Internet, fax, mail, and telephone
follow-up.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607-0190.
Form Number: SM4206-A and SM4206-E.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: U.S. merchant wholesale firms, excluding
manufacturers' sales branches and offices.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,500.
Estimated Time per Response: 7 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,300 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondent for fiscal
year 2010 is estimated to be $182,763.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: January 3, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-6 Filed 1-5-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P