[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47908-47909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20496]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Annual Trade 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 14, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 John Trimble, Bureau of the Census, Room 2682-FOB 
3, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-2703.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to expand the currently approved Annual 
Trade Survey (ATS) to include manufacturers' sales branches and offices 
(MSBO). The expanded survey will include a selected sample of firms 
operating establishments selling goods that they manufacture in the 
United States. Data will be collected annually on sales, inventories, 
and operating expenses. Initially, we will request two years of data 
for all data items. Afterwards, we will request one year of sales and 
operating expenses data and two years of Inventory data. The expanded 
survey will be mailed to a sample of firms on a company basis to reduce 
respondent burden. In order to set up reporting arrangements for 
companies we will contact them in person, as well as by phone, and by 
mail. We will request data for calendar year and year-end inventories. 
Currently two separate forms are used to collect merchant data for ATS. 
Two additional report forms will also be used to collect MSBO data. Two 
forms are needed to collect both merchant and MSBO data to accommodate 
both large and small firms. The mailings will be conducted in January 
following the survey year requested. Respondents will have thirty days 
to complete the report form before a follow-up form is sent. Later, as 
needed, an additional follow-up form will be sent, and a telephone 
follow-up will be conducted.
    This expansion of the ATS survey is being conducted to obtain a 
missing component of wholesale data. The current ATS collects data for 
merchant wholesalers but does not obtain data for MSBOs. The Bureau of 
Economic Analysis (BEA) has made repeated requests for these data that 
they consider vital to accurately measuring sales and inventories for 
wholesale trade, important inputs to BEA's preparation of National 
Income and Product accounts and their annual input-output tables. The 
expanded ATS will provide annual data for almost 90 percent of the 
sales from the wholesale sector and over 99 percent of the inventories, 
as compared to about 58 percent of sales and 85 percent of inventories 
in the present ATS program. Data will be published at the United States 
summary level for selected wholesale industries. Further expansion to 
include all of wholesale trade is planned for the data year 2007 after 
the next sample revision.

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0195.
    Additional Form Numbers: SA-42(S) and SA-42A(S).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Additional Respondents: 1,800.
    Estimated Time for Additional Response: .4444 hrs (approx. 27 
minutes).
    Estimated Additional Annual Burden Hours: 800 hours.
    Estimated Additional Annual Cost: The cost to the respondent is 
estimated to be $14,560 based on an annual response burden of 800 hours 
and a rate of $18.20 per hour to complete the form.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, sections 182, 224, 
and 225.

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

[[Page 47909]]

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 6, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-20496 Filed 8-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P