[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 155 (Friday, August 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47175-47176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16032]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS).
    Form Number(s): HVS-600, BC-1428RV, CPS-263(L).
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0179.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 3,910 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 6,518.
    Avg Hours Per Response: 3 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau seeks OMB clearance for the 
collection of demographic information in the Housing Vacancy Survey 
(HVS). The HVS has been conducted since 1956 and serves a broad array 
of data users.
    The Census Bureau collects the HVS data for a sample of vacant 
housing units identified in the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) 
sample. The HVS provides the only quarterly statistics on rental 
vacancy rates, and home ownership rates for the United States, the four 
census regions, inside vs. outside metropolitan areas (MAs), the 50 
States, the District of Columbia, and the 100 largest MAs. Private and 
public sector organizations use these rates extensively to gauge and 
analyze the housing market. In addition, the rental vacancy rate is a 
component of the index of leading economic indicators published by the 
Department of Commerce.
    Several other government agencies use these data on a continuing 
basis. For example, the Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the HVS data 
in calculating consumer expenditures for housing as a component of the 
gross domestic product; the Office of Thrift Supervision uses these 
data to project mortgage demands; and the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development relies on the HVS data to measure the adequacy of the 
supply of rental and homeowner units. The National Association of Home 
Builders, the National Association of Realtors, the Federal National 
Mortgage Association, the Federal Reserve Board, the Home Loan Mortgage 
Corporation, and the American Federation of Labor-Congress of 
Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) are among the many users in the 
private sector who routinely use the HVS data in making policy 
decisions relating to the housing market. In addition, investment firms 
use the HVS data to analyze market trends and for economic forecasting.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.

[[Page 47176]]

    Frequency: Monthly.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 182.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-
mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: August 9, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-16032 Filed 8-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P