[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 77 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20860-20861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8117]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Annual Retail 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

[[Page 20861]]

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 June 21, 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 instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Nancy Piesto, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2632-FOB 
3, Washington, DC 20223-6500, at (301) 763-7872.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS) provides a sound statistical 
basis for the formation of policy by other government agencies. It 
provides continuing and timely national statistics on retail trade and 
accommodation and food services, augmenting the period between economic 
censuses, and is a continuation of similar retail trade surveys 
conducted each year since 1951. The data collected-annual sales and 
other operating receipts, e-commerce sales and other operating 
receipts, purchases, end-of-year inventories, and accounts receivables-
are applicable to a variety of public and business needs. Data items 
collected for accommodation and food services are annual receipts and 
e-commerce receipts. The estimates of purchased merchandise will be 
used to estimate trade margins on commodities sold in calculating the 
personal consumption portion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the 
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Accounts receivable balances are 
used by the Federal Reserve Board in measuring consumer credit. 
Businesses use these estimates to determine market share and to perform 
other analysis.
    The ARTS sample consists of all firms operating retail 
establishments within the U.S. whose probability of selection is 
determined by sales size. Estimates developed in the ARTS are used to 
benchmark the monthly sales and inventories series. The firms canvassed 
in this survey are not required to maintain additional records since 
carefully prepared estimates are acceptable if book figures are not 
available.
    Since the last OMB submission the ARTS no longer uses preprinted 
pin-fed forms. Beginning with the 2002 survey year, forms are printed 
and labeled, as needed, using a print-on-demand system (Docuprint). 
There are several benefits in using this type of system. We no longer 
need to purchase or store the large quantity of forms required. Also, 
using Docuprint allows us to print the form and label at the same time 
and gives us the flexibility to print special instructions where 
needed.
    Estimates produced from the Annual Retail Trade Survey are 
published on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
basis.
    For the 2005 data year, we will introduce a new sample. As part of 
the process we will request two years of data resulting in a response 
burden time of 56 minutes. In 2006, response burden is expected to 
decrease to 37 minutes, as only one year of data will be requested.

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0013.
    Form Number: SA-44, SA-44A, SA-44C, SA-44E, SA-44N, SA-44S, SA-45, 
SA-45C, SA-721A, and SA-721E.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Retail and accommodation and food services 
businesses in the United States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22,168.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 56 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 20,690.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondents for fiscal 
year 2005 is estimated to be $488,080 based on the annual response 
burden of 20,690 hours and an hourly salary rate of $23.59 to complete 
the form.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, section 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 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: April 19, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-8117 Filed 4-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P