[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5238-5239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1303]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2007 Economic 
Census Covering the Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services 
Sectors

ACTION: Notice.

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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 April 3, 2006.

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 Fay Dorsett, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2679, 
Building 3, Washington, DC 20233-0001 (301-763-2687 or via the Internet 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The economic census, conducted under authority of Title 13, United 
States Code (USC), is the primary source of facts about the structure 
and functioning of the Nation's economy. Economic statistics serve as 
part of the framework for the national accounts and provide essential 
information for government, business, and the general public. The 
economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program commitment during 
nondecennial census years. The 2007 Economic Census covering the retail 
trade and accommodation and food services sectors (as defined by the 
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)) will measure the 
economic activity of more than 1.8 million establishments. The 
information collected will produce basic statistics by kind of business 
on the number of establishments, sales, payroll, and employment. It 
will also yield a variety of subject statistics, including sales by 
product line, sales by class of customer, and other industry-specific 
measures. Primary strategies for reducing burden in Census Bureau 
economic data collections are to increase reporting through 
standardized questionnaires and broader electronic data collection 
methods.

II. Method of Collection

    Mail Selection Procedures: Establishments in the retail trade and 
accommodation and food services sectors of the economic census will be 
selected from the Census Bureau's Business Register for a mail canvass. 
To be eligible for selection, an establishment will be required to 
satisfy the following conditions: (i) It must be classified in the 
retail trade or accommodation and food services sector; (ii) it must be 
an active operating establishment of a multi-establishment firm (i.e., 
a firm that operates at more than one physical location), or it must be 
a single-establishment firm with payroll (i.e., a firm operating at 
only one physical location); and (iii) it must be located in one of the 
50 states or the District of Columbia. Mail selection procedures will 
distinguish the following groups of establishments:

1. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms

    All active operating establishments of multi-establishment firms 
will be included in the mail component of the potential respondent 
universe. We estimate that the 2007 Economic Census mail canvasses for 
the retail trade and accommodation and food services sectors will 
include approximately 722,000 establishments of multi-establishment 
firms.

2. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll

    As an initial step in the selection process, we will conduct a 
study of the

[[Page 5239]]

potential respondent universe. This study will produce a set of 
industry-specific payroll cutoffs that we will use to distinguish large 
versus small single-establishment firms within each industry or kind of 
business. This payroll size distinction will affect selection as 
follows:
    a. Large Single-Establishment Firms--All single-establishment firms 
having annualized payroll (from Federal administrative records) that 
equals or exceeds the cutoff for their industry will be included in the 
mail component of the potential respondent universe. We estimate that 
the 2007 Economic Census mail canvasses for the retail trade and 
accommodation and food services sectors will include approximately 
553,000 large single-establishment firms.
    b. Small Single-Establishment Firms--A sample of single-
establishment firms having annualized payroll below the cutoff for 
their industry will be included in the mail component of the potential 
respondent universe. Sampling strata and corresponding probabilities of 
selection will be determined by a study of the potential respondent 
universe conducted shortly before the mail selection operations begin. 
We estimate that the 2007 Economic Census mail canvasses for the retail 
trade and accommodation and food services sectors will include 
approximately 133,000 small single-establishment firms selected in this 
sample.
    All remaining single-establishment firms with payroll will be 
represented in the census by data from Federal administrative records. 
Generally, we will not include these small employers in the census mail 
canvasses. However, administrative records sometimes have fundamental 
industry classification deficiencies that make them unsuitable for use 
in producing detailed industry statistics by geographic area. When we 
find such a deficiency, we will mail the firm a census classification 
form. We estimate that the 2007 Economic Census mail canvasses for the 
retail trade and accommodation and food services sectors will include 
approximately 445,000 small single-establishment firms that receive 
these forms.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: The 33 standard forms, seven classification forms, and 
two ownership or control fliers used to collect information from 
businesses in these sectors of the Economic Census are tailored to 
specific business practices and are too numerous to list separately in 
this notice. Requests for information on the proposed content of the 
forms should be directed to Fay Dorsett, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2679, 
Building 3, Washington, DC 20233-0001 (301-763-2687 or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).
    Type of Review: Regular review.
    Affected Public: State or local governments, business or other for-
profit organizations, or non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,853,000.
Retail Trade (Standard Form)--964,000; Retail Trade (Classification 
Form)--194,000; Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--
444,000; and Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--
251,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Retail Trade (Standard Form)--1 hour; 
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--12 minutes; Accommodation and Food 
Services (Standard Form) -- 1 hour; and Accommodation and Food Services 
(Classification Form)--12 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,497,000.

Retail Trade (Standard Form)--964,000
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--38,800
Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--444,000
Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--50,200

    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $36,930,990.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C., 131 and 224.

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: January 26, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-1303 Filed 1-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P