[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69310-69311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22598]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 050728205-5287-02]
RIN 0607-AA45


Annual Trade Survey

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of determination.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is expanding the 2005 
Annual Trade Survey (ATS) to include agents, brokers, and electronic 
markets (AGBR). The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has requested the 
expansion. The BEA considers this information vital to its accurate 
measurement of sales and value added for wholesale trade. These data 
are important inputs to BEA's preparation of National Income and 
Product accounts and its annual input-output tables.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The Census Bureau adopts the expanded ATS as of 
November 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The Census Bureau will furnish report forms to respondents 
included in the survey, and additional copies are available upon 
written request to the Director, Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-
0101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John R. Trimble, Chief, Annual 
Wholesale and Special Projects Branch, Service Sector Statistics 
Division, on (301) 763-7223 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Census Bureau is authorized to conduct 
surveys necessary to furnish current data on subjects covered by the 
major censuses authorized by Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), 
Sections 182, 224, and 225. Reporting by AGBR offices will be mandatory 
and will provide continuing and timely national statistical data. Data 
collected in this survey will be within the general scope, type, and 
character of those inquiries covered in the Economic Census.
    The current ATS collects data for all merchant wholesalers, 
including manufacturers' sales branches and offices (MSBO). The 
expanded survey will include a selected sample of AGBRs that facilitate 
sales between businesses

[[Page 69311]]

in the United States. These data will be a vital source for accurately 
measuring the sales, commissions, sales arranged for others, e-
commerce, and operating expenses of these types of companies. The BEA 
has made repeated requests for this information. The expanded ATS will 
cover all sales from the wholesale sector compared to about 90 percent 
of sales in the present ATS sample.
    Beginning with the survey year 2005, the goal will be to maximize 
industry coverage within our available resources. In order to establish 
reporting arrangements and reduce respondent burden, we will mail 
report forms to a sample of firms on a company basis and contact them 
in person, as well as by phone and mail. We will mail firms in the 
survey an introduction letter, report forms, and a flyer instructing 
them how to reply electronically. We request that forms be completed 
and returned 30 days after receipt. The report forms will request 
similar data items, but different forms will be used to accommodate 
wholesale distributors, MSBO, and AGBR companies, as well as both large 
and small firms. Later, if necessary, additional mail follow-ups and 
telephone follow-ups will be conducted.
    The primary users of these data are federal, state, and local 
government agencies, including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics, and BEA. Other users include business firms, academics, 
trade associations, and research and consulting organizations.
    On September 20, 2005 (70 FR 55104), the Census Bureau published in 
the Federal Register a notice and request for comments on the expansion 
of the ATS. We received two comments that were not responsive to the 
solicitation. Accordingly, the Census Bureau is adopting, without 
change, its proposal to include agents, broker, and electronic markets 
in the 2005 Annual Trade Survey.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this notice would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for 
this certification was published in the earlier notice and request for 
comment (09/20/05; 70 FR 55104). No comments were received regarding 
the economic impact of that notice. As a result, no final regulatory 
flexibility analysis was prepared.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with, a collection of information subject to requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information 
displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control 
number. This notice contains a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). In accordance with 
the PRA, OMB approved on September 21, 2005, with control number 0607-
0195, the collection of all information associated with this notice. We 
estimate the number of additional respondents to be 390 and estimate an 
additional 677 annual burden hours with this expanded data collection. 
Also, we estimate that the time for the additional responses associated 
with this data collection will be approximately 28 minutes. We will 
furnish report forms to organizations included in the survey, and 
additional copies will be available upon written request to the 
Director, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-0101.

    Dated: November 9, 2005.
Charles Louis Kincannon,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 05-22598 Filed 11-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P