[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 53 (Friday, March 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13541-13542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6741]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey; Proposed Collection; Comment 
Request

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 18, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Ronald Piencykoski, Bureau of the Census, Room 
2626-FOB3, Washington, DC 20223-6500, at (301) 457-2779.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey provides the only continuous 
measure of monthly sales, end-of-month inventories, method of inventory 
valuation, and inventory/sales ratios in the United States by selected 
kinds of business for merchant wholesalers. The Bureau of Economic 
Analysis (BEA) uses this information to improve the inventory valuation 
adjustments applied to estimates of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses the data as input to their 
Producer Price Indexes and in developing productivity measurements.
    Estimates produced from the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey are 
based on a probability sample. The sample design consists of one fixed 
panel where all cases are requested to report sales and inventories 
each month. We currently publish wholesale sales and inventory 
estimates on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis. 
Starting in the spring of 2001, we will publish on the North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. The SIC definition of 
wholesale trade and the NAICS definition of wholesale trade are 
substantially different. The SIC defines wholesalers as establishments 
engaged in selling merchandise to other businesses. NAICS distinguishes 
wholesalers from retailers based on what the establishment does rather 
than to whom the establishment sells. Wholesalers are defined as those 
establishments that sell from offices or warehouses, usually in large 
quantities, advertise to businesses rather than to the general public, 
and generally have no walk-in traffic or formal displays. Businesses, 
formerly classified in wholesale trade, that sell to the general public 
are now classified as retail.
    NAICS provides a better way to classify individual businesses, and 
will be widely adopted throughout both the public and private sectors. 
NAICS will change the information that is currently available with 
reclassifications, definitional changes, and movement of activities in 
or out of wholesale trade. NAICS is more relevant as it identifies more 
industries that contribute to today's growing economy. NAICS was 
developed by the United States, Canada,

[[Page 13542]]

and Mexico to produce comparable data among the NAFTA partners.
    In addition to converting from the SIC to NAICS, the Monthly 
Wholesale Trade Survey will convert its monthly report form to a print-
on demand system. This new 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 being produced.

II. Method of Collection

    We collect this information by mail, fax, and telephone follow-up.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0190.
    Form Number: B-310 (97).
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Wholesale firms in the United States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,800.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 7 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,320.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondents for fiscal 
year 1999 is estimated to be $103,687 based on the mean hourly salary 
of $19.49 for accountants and auditors. (``Occupational Employment 
Statistics--Bureau of Labor Statistics 1997 National Occupational 
Employment and Wage Data Professional, Paraprofessional, and Technical 
Occupations,'' $19.49 represents the median hourly wage of the full-
time wage and salary earnings of accountants and auditors). Information 
on mean wages and salaries can also be found at Internet site http://
stats.bls.gov/oes/national/oes__prof.htm.
    Respondent's Obligation: The collection of information is 
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 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 15, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-6741 Filed 3-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P