[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8190-8191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2514]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


2002 Economic Census Covering the Retail Trade and Accommodation 
and Food Services Sectors

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 March 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
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 Fay Dorsett, U. S. Census Bureau, Room 2679, 
Building 3, Washington DC 20233-0001 (301-457-2687 or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The economic census, conducted under authority of Title 13, United 
States Code (U.S.C.), is the primary source of facts about the 
structure and functioning of the Nation's economy. Economic statistics 
serve as part of the framework for the national accounts and provide 
essential information for government, business, and the general public. 
Economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program commitment during 
nondecennial census years. The 2002 Economic Census covering retail 
trade and accommodation and food services sectors (as defined by the 
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)) will measure the 
economic activity of more than 1.6 million establishments. The 
information collected will produce basic statistics by kind of business 
on the number of establishments, sales, payroll, and employment. It 
will also yield a variety of subject statistics, including sales by 
merchandise line, sales by class of customer, and other industry-
specific measures. Primary strategies for reducing burden in Census 
Bureau economic data collections are to increase electronic reporting 
through broader use of computerized self-administered census 
questionnaires, on-line questionnaires, and other electronic data 
collection methods.

II. Method of Collection

A. Mail Selection Procedures

    The retail trade and accommodation and food services sectors of the 
economic census will select establishments for their mail canvasses 
from the Census Bureau's Business Register. To be eligible for 
selection, an establishment will be required to satisfy the following 
conditions: (i) it must be classified in the retail trade or 
accommodation and food services sector; (ii) it must be an active 
operating establishment of a multi-establishment firm (i.e., a firm 
that operates at more than one physical location), or it must be a 
single-establishment firm with payroll (i.e., a firm operating at only 
one physical location); and (iii) it must be located in one of the 50 
states or the District of Columbia. Mail selection procedures will 
distinguish the following groups of establishments:

[[Page 8191]]

1. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms
    Selection procedures will assign all active operating 
establishments of multi-establishment firms to the mail component of 
the potential respondent universe. We estimate that the 2002 Economic 
Census mail canvasses for the retail trade and accommodation and food 
services sectors will include approximately 630,000 establishments of 
multi-establishment firms.
2. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll
    As an initial step in the selection process, we will conduct a 
study of the potential respondent universe. This study will produce a 
set of industry-specific payroll cutoffs that we will use to 
distinguish large versus small single-establishment firms within each 
industry or kind of business. This payroll size distinction will affect 
selection as follows:
(a) Large Single-Establishment Firms
    Selection procedures will assign single-establishment firms having 
annualized payroll (from Federal administrative records) that equals or 
exceeds the cutoff for their industry to the mail component of the 
potential respondent universe. We estimate that the 2002 Economic 
Census mail canvasses for the retail trade and accommodation and food 
services sectors will include approximately 482,000 large single-
establishment firms.
(b) Small Single-Establishment Firms
    Selection procedures will assign a sample of single-establishment 
firms having annualized payroll below the cutoff for their industry to 
the mail component of the potential respondent universe. Sampling 
strata and corresponding probabilities of selection will be determined 
by a study of the potential respondent universe conducted shortly 
before mail selection operations begin. We estimate that the 2002 
Economic Census mail canvasses for the retail trade and accommodation 
and food services sectors will include approximately 114,000 small 
single-establishment firms selected in this sample.
    All remaining single-establishment firms with payroll will be 
represented in the census by data from Federal administrative records. 
Generally, we will not include these small employers in the census mail 
canvasses. However, administrative records sometimes have fundamental 
industry classification deficiencies that make them unsuitable for use 
in producing detailed industry statistics by geographic area. When we 
find such a deficiency, we will mail the firm a census classification 
form. We estimate that the 2002 Economic Census mail canvasses for the 
retail trade and accommodation and food services sectors will include 
approximately 387,000 small single-establishment firms that receive 
these forms.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: The 33 standard and seven classification forms used to 
collect information from businesses in these sectors of the Economic 
census are tailored to specific business practices and are too numerous 
to list separately in this notice. Requests for information on the 
proposed content of the forms should be directed to Fay Dorsett, U.S. 
Census Bureau, Room 2679, Building 3, Washington DC 20233-0001 (301-
457-2687 or via the Internet at [email protected]).
    Type of Review: Regular review.
    Affected Public: State or local governments, businesses, or other 
for profit or non-profit institutions or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents:

Retail Trade (Standard Form)--838,000
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--169,000
Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--386,000
Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--218,000
Total--1,611,000

    Estimated Time Per Response:

Retail Trade (Standard Form)--1.00 hours
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--.20 hours
Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--.95 hours
Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--.20 hours
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:

Retail Trade (Standard Form)--838,000
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--33,800
Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--366,700
Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--43,600
Total--1,282,100

    Estimated Total Annual Cost:

Retail Trade (Standard Form)--$12,838,160
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--$517,816
Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--$5,617,844
Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--$667,952
Total--$19,641,772

    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, USC, Sections 131 and 224.

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: January 22, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-2514 Filed 1-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P