[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 157 (Monday, August 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49535-49536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20483]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Advance Monthly Retail Sales Survey

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 13, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
the Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to: Scott Scheleur, Bureau of the Census, Room 2626-
FOB 3, Washington, D.C. 20233-6500, (301) 457-2713.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Advance Monthly Retail Sales Survey (MARTS) provides an early 
indication of current retail sales activity at the United States level. 
Policymakers 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 Economic Analysis (BEA), the Council of 
Economic Advisors (CEA), 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. There 
would be approximately a month delay in the availability of these data 
if this survey were not conducted. Data are collected monthly from 
small, medium, and large size businesses, selected using a stratified 
random sampling procedure. The MARTS sample is re-selected 
periodically, generally at two year intervals. Small and medium-size 
retailers are requested to participate for those two years, after which 
they are replaced with new panel members. Smaller firms have less of a 
chance for selection due to our sampling procedure. Firms canvassed in 
this survey are not required to maintain additional records and 
carefully prepared estimates are acceptable if book figures are not 
available. The change in the response burden is a result of a larger 
sample size. The sample was increased from 4,100 to 4,500 to improve 
the quality of the estimates.
    This request is for the clearance of four similar report forms SM-
44(00)A; SM-44(00)AE; SM-44(00)AS & SM-72(00)A which will be replacing 
the form B-104 previously used to collect data in this survey on the 
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis. The new forms will 
enable us to collect information on the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) basis. All forms request similar data 
items but a variety of forms are needed to address either a firm's 
specific kind-of-business or to ask if and when the firm began selling 
through an Internet site and to separately report the value of any 
Internet sales.

II. Method of Collection

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

[[Page 49536]]

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0104.
    Form Number: SM-44(00)A, SM-44(00)AE, SM-44(00)AS & SM-72(00)A.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Retail Businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: .0833 hrs (5 minutes).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,500 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondent is 
estimated to be $81,900, based on annual response burden of 4,500 hours 
and a rate of $18.20 per hour to complete the form.
    Respondent's Obligation: 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 through 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: August 8, 2000.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-20483 Filed 8-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P