[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64042-64043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22232]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Monthly 
Wholesale Trade Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before January 14, 2008.

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]).

[[Page 64043]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to John Miller, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8K081, 
Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-2758.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey provides the only continuous 
measure of monthly sales, end-of-month inventories, and inventories/
sales ratios in the United States by selected kinds of business for 
merchant wholesalers, excluding manufacturers' sales branches and 
offices. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses this information to 
improve the inventory valuation adjustments applied to estimates of the 
Gross Domestic Product. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the data as 
input to their Producer Price Indexes and in developing productivity 
measurements.
    Estimates produced from the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey are 
based on a probability sample and are published on the North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. The sample design 
consists of small, medium, and large cases requested to report sales 
and inventories each month. The sample, consisting of about 4,500 
wholesale businesses, is drawn from the Business Register, which 
contains all Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) and listed 
establishment locations. The sample is updated quarterly to reflect 
employer business ``births'' and ``deaths''; adding new employer 
businesses identified in the Business and Professional Classification 
Survey and deleting firms and EINs when it is determined they are no 
longer active.
    The Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey will continue to generate its 
monthly report form through a print-on demand system. This system 
allows us to tailor the survey instrument to a specific industry. For 
example, it will print an additional instruction for a particular NAICS 
code. This system also reduces the time and cost of preparing mailout 
packages that contain unique variable data, while improving the look 
and quality of the products being produced.

II. Method of Collection

    This information is collected by mail, fax, and telephone follow-
up.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0190.
    Form Number: SM-42(00), SM-42F(00).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Merchant wholesale firms, excluding manufacturers' 
sales branches and offices, which operate in the United States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 7 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,300.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $165,438.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 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 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: November 7, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-22232 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P