[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15939-15940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6599]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual
Wholesale Trade Survey
AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 May 23, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
[[Page 15940]]
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 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) covers employer firms with
establishments located in the United States and classified in wholesale
trade as defined by the North American Industry Classification System
(NAICS). This sector comprises two main types of wholesalers: (1)
Merchant wholesalers that sell goods on their own account (including
sales offices and sales branches, except retail stores, maintained by
manufacturing, refining, or mining enterprises apart from their plants
or mines for the purpose of marketing their products) and (2) business
to business electronic markets, agents, and brokers that arrange sales
and purchases for others generally for a commission or fee.
Firms are selected for this survey using a stratified random sample
where strata are defined by industry and annual sales size. The sample,
consisting of approximately 7,600 wholesale businesses, is selected
from the Business Register, which contains all Employer Identification
Numbers (EINs) and listed establishment locations. The sample is
updated quarterly to reflect employer ``births'' and ``deaths'' by
adding new employer businesses identified in the Business and
Professional Classification Survey and deleting firms and EINs when it
is determined they are no longer active.
Respondents are separated into three classifications: (1) Merchant
wholesale establishments, excluding manufacturers' sales branches and
offices; (2) manufacturers' sales branches and offices; and (3) agents,
brokers, and business to business electronic markets. The first
classification is asked to provide sales, e-commerce, inventories,
method of inventory valuation, inventories held outside the United
States, purchases, and operating expenses. The second classification is
asked to provide sales, e-commerce, inventories, method of inventory
valuation, inventories held outside the United States, and operating
expenses. The third classification is asked to provide commissions,
sales on their own account, and operating expenses. These data are
collected to provide a sound statistical basis for the formation of
policy by various government agencies. These data are used to satisfy a
variety of public and business needs such as economic market analysis,
company performance, and forecasting future demands. Results will be
available, at the United States summary level, for selected wholesale
industries approximately fourteen months after the end of the reference
year.
A new sample will be introduced with the 2011 AWTS. It is expected
that approximately 60-70% of the companies that are asked to report
will be doing so for the first time (and, consequently, 60-70% of the
old sample will no longer be asked to report). In order to link
estimates from the new and prior samples, we will be asking companies
to provide data for 2011 and 2010. The 2012 AWTS and subsequent years
will request one year of data until a new sample is once again
introduced.
An additional change will occur with the 2012 AWTS. We will request
data on detailed operating expenses that were previously requested
under a separate supplemental mailing (conducted every 5 years). The
last supplemental mailing was conducted in conjunction with the 2007
AWTS under OMB No. 0607-0942. While the wholesale portion of that
program will be collapsed into the AWTS, we will continue to ask only
the additional detailed expense questions every 5 years. These detailed
expense questions are only applicable to the merchant wholesale
establishments, excluding manufacturers' sales branches and offices.
II. Method of Collection
We collect this information by Internet, fax, mail, and telephone.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607-0195.
Form Number: SA-42, SA-42A, SA-42(MSBO), SA-42A(MSBO), SA-42(AGBR),
SA-42A(AGBR).
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Wholesale firms located in the United States.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,600.
Estimated Time per Response: 74 minutes (3-year average).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,405 hours (3-year average).
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The total cost to respondents is
estimated to be $272,839.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 182, 224,
and 225.
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: March 16, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-6599 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P