Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals

Federal Register: March 27, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 60)

Notices

Page 16263-16264

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr27mr08-24

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce will submit 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: Monthly Retail Trade Survey.

Form Number(s): SM-44(06)S, SM-44(06)SE, SM-44(06)SS, SM-44(06)B,

SM-44(06)BE, SM-44(06)BS, SM-45(06)S, SM-45(06)SE, SM-45(06)SS, SM- 45(06)B, SM-45(06)BE, SM-45(06)BS, SM-72(06)S, and SM-20(06)I.

OMB Control Number: 0607-0717.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Burden Hours: 12,196.

Number of Respondents: 8,712.

Average Hours Per Response: 7 minutes.

Needs and Uses: This request is for approval of an extension to the

Monthly Retail Trade Survey, previously referred to as the ``Current

Retail Sales and Inventory Survey''. The Monthly Retail Trade Survey provides estimates of monthly retail sales, end-of-month merchandise inventories, and quarterly e-commerce sales of retailers in the United

States by selected kinds of business. Also, it provides monthly sales of food service establishments.

Sales and inventories data provide a current statistical picture of the retail portion of consumer activity. The sales and inventories estimates in the Monthly Retail Trade Survey measure current trends of economic activity that occur in the United States. Also, the estimates compiled from the survey provide valuable information for economic policy decisions and actions by the government and are widely used by private businesses, trade organizations, professional associations, and others for market research and analysis. The Bureau of Economic

Analysis (BEA) uses these data in determining the consumption portion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Retail and Food Services Sales during 2007 amounted to $4.5 trillion. The estimates produced in the Monthly Retail Trade Survey are critical to the accurate measurement of total economic activity. The estimates of retail sales represent all operating receipts, including receipts from wholesale sales made at retail locations and services rendered as part of the sale of the goods, by businesses that primarily sell at retail. The sales estimates include sales made on credit as well on a cash basis, but exclude receipts from sales taxes and interest charges from credit sales. Also excluded is non-operating income from such services as investments and real estate.

The estimates of merchandise inventories owned by retailers represent all merchandise located in retail stores, warehouses, offices, or in transit for distribution to retail establishments. The estimates of merchandise inventories exclude fixtures and supplies not held for sale, as well as merchandise held on consignment owned by others. The BEA uses inventories data to determine the investment portion of the GDP.

Retail e-commerce sales are estimated from the same sample used in the Monthly Retail Trade Survey to estimate

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preliminary and final U.S. retail sales. The Monthly Retail Trade sample is updated on an ongoing basis to account for new retail employer businesses (including those selling via the Internet), business deaths, and other changes to the retail business universe.

Research was conducted to ensure that retail firms selected in the

Monthly Retail Trade Survey sample and engaged in e-commerce are representative of the universe of e-commerce retailers. Total e- commerce sales for 2007 were estimated at $136 billion.

Census publish retail sales and inventories estimates based on the

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which has been widely adopted throughout both the public and private sectors.

The BEA is the primary Federal user of data collected in the

Monthly Retail Trade Survey. BEA uses the information in its preparation of the National Income and Products Accounts, and its benchmark and annual input-output tables. Statistics provided from retail sales and inventories estimates are used in the calculation of the GDP. If the survey were not conducted, BEA would lack comprehensive data from the retail sector. This would adversely affect the reliability of the National Income and Products Accounts and the GDP.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses the data as input to their Producer Price Indexes and in developing productivity measurements. The data are also used for gauging current economic trends of the economy. Private businesses use the retail sales and inventories data to compute business activity indexes. The private sector also uses retail sales as a reliable indicator of consumer activity.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Frequency: Monthly.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 182.

OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.

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 Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-mail (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov).

Dated: March 24, 2008.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

FR Doc. E8-6260 Filed 3-26-08; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P