[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 36718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17131]


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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 
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.

Dates: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
Addresses section of this notice on or before September 7, 1999.

    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, NE, Washington, DC 20212. Ms. Kurz can be 
reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

For Further Information Contact: Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer. 
See Addresses section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATORY:

I. Proposed Collection

    Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed revision of the ``Point of Purchase 
Survey.'' A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) 
can be obtained by contacting the individual listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice.

II. Background

    The purpose of this survey is to develop and maintain a timely list 
of retail, wholesale, and service establishments where urban consumers 
shop for specified items. This information is used as the sampling 
universe for selecting establishments at which prices of specified 
items are collected and monitored for use in calculating the Consumer 
Price Index (CPI). The survey has been ongoing since 1980 and also 
provides expenditure data that allow items that are priced in the CPI 
to be properly weighted.

III. Current Actions

    Since 1997, the survey has been administered quarterly and entirely 
via a computer-assisted telephone interview, as opposed to the previous 
practice of an annual personal-visit interview. This revised collection 
methodology is more flexible and creates the possibility of introducing 
new products into the CPI in a timelier manner. Furthermore, the cost 
efficiency of telephone interviewing permits data collection in all 
sampling areas each year, rather than the previous practice of 
collecting data in only 20 percent of all sampling areas each year. The 
revised sample design results in an overall CPI market basket that is 
more reflective of the current prices encountered, and the 
establishments visited, by urban consumers.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Point of Purchase Survey.
    OMB Number: 1220-0044.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Total Respondents: 17,827 (three-year annual average).
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 67,200 annually.
    Average Time Per Response: 11 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 12,320 annually.
    Total Burden Cost: (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost: (operating/maintenance): $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 30th day of June 1999.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 99-17131 Filed 7-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M