[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 18 (Monday, January 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3876-3877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2049]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Current Retail Sales and Inventory 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 March 29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork 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 instruments(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Nancy Piesto, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2654-FOB 
3, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 457-2708.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Current Retail Sales and Inventory Survey provides estimates of 
monthly retail sales, end-of-month merchandise inventories, and 
quarterly e-commerce sales of retailers in the United States by 
selected kinds of business. Also, it provides monthly sales of food 
service establishments. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) uses this 
information to prepare the National Income and Products Accounts and to 
benchmark the annual input-output tables. Statistics provided from the 
Current Retail Sales and Inventory Survey are used to calculate the 
gross domestic product (GDP).
    Estimates produced from the Current Retail Sales and Inventory 
Survey are based on a probability sample. The sample design consists of 
one fixed panel where all cases are requested to report sales and/or 
inventories each month.
    As of April 2001 (June data month), we started publishing retail 
sales and inventory estimates on the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS). Prior to that period, estimates were 
published on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis. As a 
result of NAICS, we will continue to collect monthly sales on food 
services and publish a retail trade and food services total in addition 
to a retail trade total. NAICS provides a better way to classify 
individual businesses, and is widely adopted throughout both the public 
and private sectors. NAICS is more relevant as it identifies more 
industries that contribute to today's growing economy. NAICS was 
developed by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in order to produce 
comparable data between neighboring countries.
    In 2000, we redesigned our current retail forms to incorporate a 
new series of form numbers, and to include the 
e-commerce screening or data request as a separate item. The content of 
the forms did not change; therefore there was no change in reporting 
burden.
    Listed below are the new series of retail form numbers, old form 
numbers, and the description:

[[Page 3877]]



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       New Series               Old Series              Description
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SM-44(00)S.............  B-111(97)S.............  Non Department Store/
                                                   Sales Only/WO E-
                                                   Commerce.
SM-44(00)SE............  B-111(97)S.............  Non Department Store/
                                                   Sales Only W E-
                                                   Commerce.
SM-44(00)SS............  B-111(97)S.............  Non Department Store/
                                                   Sales Only/Screener.
SM-44(00)B.............  B-111(97)B.............  Non Department Store/
                                                   Sales and Inventory/
                                                   WO E-Comm.
SM-44(00)BE............  B-111(97)B.............  Non Department Store/
                                                   Sales and Inventory/W
                                                   E-Comm.
SM-44(00)BS............  B-111(97)B.............  Non Department Store/
                                                   Sales and Inventory/
                                                   Screener.
SM-44(00)L.............  B-111(97)L.............  Non Department Store/
                                                   Sales and Inventory/
                                                   LIFO/WO E-Comm.
SM-44(00)LE............  B-111(97)L.............  Non Department Store/
                                                   Sales and Inventory/
                                                   LIFO/W E-Comm.
SM-44(00)LS............  B-111(97)L.............  Non Department Store/
                                                   Sales and Inventory/
                                                   LIFO/Screene.
SM-45(00)S.............  B-101(97)S.............  Department Store/Sales
                                                   Only/WO E-Commerce.
SM-45(00)SE............  B-101(97)S.............  Department Store/Sales
                                                   Only/W E-Commerce.
SM-45(00)SS............  B-101(97)S.............  Department Store/Sales
                                                   Only/Screener.
SM-45(00)B.............  B-101(97)B.............  Department Store/Sales
                                                   and Inventory/WO E-
                                                   Commerce.
SM-45(00)BE............  B-101(97)B.............  Department Store/Sales
                                                   and Inventory/W E-
                                                   Commerce.
SM-45(00)BS............  B-101(97)B.............  Department Store/Sales
                                                   and Inventory/
                                                   Screener.
SM-72(00)S.............  B-111(97)S.............  Food Services/Sales
                                                   Only/WO E-Commerce.
SM-20(00)I.............  B-113(97)I.............  Non Department and
                                                   Department Store/
                                                   Inventory Only.
SM-20(00)L.............  B-113(97)L.............  Non Department and
                                                   Department Store/
                                                   Inventory Only/LIFO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0717.
    Form Number: SM-44(00)S, SM-44(00)SE, SM-44(00)SS, SM-44(00)B, SM-
44(00)BE, SM-44(00)BS, SM-44(00)L, SM-44(00)LE, SM-44(00)LS, SM-
45(00)S, SM-45(00)SE, SM-45(00)SS, SM-45(00)B, SM-45(00)BE, SM-
45(00)BS, SM-72(00)S, SM-20(00)I, and SM-20(00)L.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Retail and Food Services firms in the United 
States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 7.8 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondents for fiscal 
year 2002 is estimated to be $306,560 based on the median hourly salary 
of $19.16 for accountants and auditors. (Occupational Employment 
Statistics-Bureau of Labor Statistics 1999 National Occupational 
Employment and Wage Estimates, $19.16 represents the median hourly wage 
of the full-time wage and salary earnings of accountants and auditors)
    http://www.bls.gov/oes/1999/oes__13Bu.htm
    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 estimates 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, 2002.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-2049 Filed 1-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P