[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10359-10360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5352]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC has submitted 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 of 1995, Public Law 104-
13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
    Agency: Bureau of the Census.
    Title: Advance Monthly Retail Sales Survey.
    Form Number(s): B-104.
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0104.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 4,100 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 4,100.
    Avg Hours Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The Bureau of the Census conducts the Advance 
Monthly Retail Sales Survey to collect monthly sales data from a 
national sample of retail establishments on a timely basis in order to 
provide an early indication of changes in current retail trade activity 
at the United States level. Data are collected monthly from small, 
medium, and large size businesses.
    Policy makers such as the Federal Reserve Board need to have the 
most timely estimates in order to anticipate economic trends and act 
accordingly. The Bureau of the Census releases the

[[Page 10360]]

advance sales estimates 9 days after the end of the data month in a 
press release called ``Advance Monthly Retail Sales Report.'' Without 
these early estimates, the next available measure of retail sales is 
the ``preliminary'' estimate released about 40 days after the data 
month.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the Council of Economic 
Advisors, and other government agencies and businesses use the data to 
formulate economic policy and make decisions. These estimates have a 
high BEA priority because of their timeliness. Other users of the 
advance sales estimates include the Council of Economic Advisors, 
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Federal Reserve Board, other government 
agencies, and businesses.
    We are increasing the sample size from 3,363 to 4,100 to improve 
the quality of the data.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 182.
    OMB Desk Officer: Nancy Kirkendall, (202) 395-7313.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Linda Engelmeier, DOC Forms Clearance Officer, 
(202) 482-3272, Department of Commerce, room 5327, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Nancy Kirkendall, OMB Desk Officer, room 10201, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: February 24, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-5352 Filed 3-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P