[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 220 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64192-64193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22234]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Monthly Retail 
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]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Scott Scheleur, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8K181, 
4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-2713.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    The Monthly Retail Trade Survey provides estimates of monthly 
retail sales, end-of-month merchandise inventories, and quarterly e-
commerce sales of retailers in the United States by selected kinds of 
business. Also, it provides monthly sales of food service 
establishments. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) uses this 
information to prepare the National Income and Products Accounts and to 
benchmark the annual input-output tables. Statistics provided from the 
Monthly Retail Trade Survey are used to calculate the gross domestic 
product (GDP).
    Estimates produced from the Monthly Retail Trade Survey are based 
on a probability sample. The sample design consists of one fixed panel 
where all cases are requested to report sales and/or inventories each 
month.
    Listed below are the series of retail form numbers and a 
description of each form:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Series                            Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SM-44(06)S.........................  Non Department Store/Sales Only/WO
                                      E-Commerce.
SM-44(06)SE........................  Non Department Store/Sales Only W E-
                                      Commerce.
SM-44(06)SS........................  Non Department Store/Sales Only/
                                      Screener.
SM-44(06)B.........................  Non Department Store/Sales and
                                      Inventory/WO E-Commerce.
SM-44(06)BE........................  Non Department Store/Sales and
                                      Inventory/W E-Commerce.
SM-44(06)BS........................  Non Department Store/Sales and
                                      Inventory/Screener.
SM-45(06)S.........................  Department Store/Sales Only/WO E-
                                      Commerce.
SM-45(06)SE........................  Department Store/Sales Only/W E-
                                      Commerce.
SM-45(06)SS........................  Department Store/Sales Only/
                                      Screener.
SM-45(06)B.........................  Department Store/Sales and
                                      Inventory/WO E-Commerce.
SM-45(06)BE........................  Department Store/Sales and
                                      Inventory/W E-Commerce.
SM-45(06)BS........................  Department Store/Sales and
                                      Inventory/Screener.
SM-72(06)S.........................  Food Services/Sales Only/WO E-
                                      Commerce.
SM-20(06)I.........................  Non Department and Department Store/
                                      Inventory Only.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 64193]]

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0717.
    Form Number: SM-44(06)S, SM-44(06)SE, SM-44(06)SS, SM-44(06)B, SM-
44(06)BE, SM-44(06)BS, SM-45(06)S, SM-45(06)SE, SM-45(06)SS, SM-
45(06)B, SM-45(06)BE, SM-45(06)BS, SM-72(06)S, and SM-20(06)I.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Retail and Food Services firms in the United 
States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 7 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $367,640.
    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. E7-22234 Filed 11-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P