[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 67110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25370]


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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 January 18, 
2005.

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 instruments and instructions 
should be directed to Scott Scheleur, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2626-FOB 
3, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-2713.

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.
    Listed below are the series of retail form numbers and a 
description of each form:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Series                             Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SM-44(00)S..........................  Non Department Store/Sales Only/WO
                                       E-Commerce.
SM-44(00)SE.........................  Non Department Store/Sales Only W
                                       E-Commerce.
SM-44(00)SS.........................  Non Department Store/Sales Only/
                                       Screener.
SM-44(00)B..........................  Non Department Store/Sales and
                                       Inventory/WO E-Comm.
SM-44(00)BE.........................  Non Department Store/Sales and
                                       Inventory/W E-Comm.
SM-44(00)BS.........................  Non Department Store/Sales and
                                       Inventory/Screener.
SM-44(00)L..........................  Non Department Store/Sales and
                                       Inventory/LIFO/WO E-Comm.
SM-44(00)LE.........................  Non Department Store/Sales and
                                       Inventory/LIFO/W E-Comm.
SM-44(00)LS.........................  Non Department Store/Sales and
                                       Inventory/LIFO/Screener.
SM-45(00)S..........................  Department Store/Sales Only/WO E-
                                       Commerce.
SM-45(00)SE.........................  Department Store/Sales Only/W E-
                                       Commerce.
SM-45(00)SS.........................  Department Store/Sales Only/
                                       Screener.
SM-45(00)B..........................  Department Store/Sales and
                                       Inventory/WO E-Commerce.
SM-45(00)BE.........................  Department Store/Sales and
                                       Inventory/W E-Commerce.
SM-45(00)BS.........................  Department Store/Sales and
                                       Inventory/Screener.
SM-72(00)S..........................  Food Services/Sales Only/WO E-
                                       Commerce.
SM-20(00)I..........................  Non Department and Department
                                       Store/Inventory Only.
SM-20(00)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: See above.
    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 2005 is estimated to be $377,440 based on the median hourly salary 
of $23.59 for accountants and auditors. (Occupational Employment 
Statistics-Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2003 National Occupational 
Employment and Wage Estimates, $23.59 represents the median hourly wage 
of the full-time wage and salary earnings of accountants and auditors 
SOC code 13-2011.) http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2003/may/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: November 9, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-25370 Filed 11-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P