[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 250 (Friday, December 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68299-68300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33025]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed revision of the ``Consumer Price Index Revision 
Housing Survey.''
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the addressee 
section of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before February 25, 1997.
    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20212. Ms. Kurz can be 
reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the only index compiled by the 
U.S. Government that is designed to measure changes in the purchasing 
power of the urban consumer's dollar. The CPI is used most widely as a 
measure of inflation, and serves as an indicator of the effectiveness 
of Government economic policy. It also is used as a deflator of other 
economic series, that is, to adjust other series for price changes and 
to translate these series into inflation-free dollars.

II. Current Actions

    This request addresses not only the 1998 Revision of the Housing 
Index and the new Housing sample selection, it includes the transition 
to computer-Assisted Data Collection (CADC) technology.
    For the CPI Housing Survey, the revision means implementing a new 
sample in new and existing Primary Sampling Units. The methodology for 
index calculation includes both a Geometric Mean Test Index and a 
Laspeyres Index. Survey sample

[[Page 68300]]

selection utilized an expenditure weight algorithm which can be used to 
calculate both indexes. Field representative will use hand-held pen 
computers and transmit collected data back to Washington, D.C. 
electronically.
    Type of Review: New.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Consumer Price Index Housing Survey.
    OMB Number: 1220-New.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit.
    Total Respondents: 136,612.
    Frequency: Semi-annually.
    Total Respondents: 149,482.
    Average Time Per Response: 7 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 16,694.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 23rd day of December, 1996.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 96-33025 Filed 12-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M