[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17148-17149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8403]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly
Services 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 June 15, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 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 Lisa Donaldson, U.S. Census Bureau, 8K041,
Washington, DC 20233-6500, and 301-763-7296.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a quarterly survey of service
industry production--the Quarterly Services Survey (QSS). The QSS is a
principal economic indicator series that produces, for selected service
industries, quarterly estimates of total operating revenue and the
percentage of revenue by class of customer. The survey also produces
estimates of total operating expenses from tax-exempt firms in
industries that have a large not-for-profit component. In addition, for
hospital services, the survey estimates the number of inpatient days
and discharge admissions. Current selected service industries include
information services; professional scientific and technical services;
hospitals; nursing and residential care facilities; administrative and
support and waste management and remediation services; ambulatory
health care services; social assistance; credit intermediation and
related activities; securities, commodity contracts, and other
financial investments and related
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activities; truck transportation; courier and messengers; warehousing
and storage; rental and leasing services; arts, entertainment, and
recreation; and other services except public administration.
Data are collected from all of the largest firms and from a sample
of small- and medium-sized businesses selected using a stratified
sampling procedure. Each quarter the sample is updated to reflect the
addition of new business births and firms and organizations that have
gone out-of-business.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses data gathered in this survey
in developing its quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and GDP by
industry estimates. The data provide the Federal Reserve Board and
Council of Economic advisors with timely information to assess current
economic performance. Other government and private stakeholders also
benefit from a better understanding of important cyclical components of
our economy.
We are expanding the industry coverage of the QSS to include
utilities; air transportation; water transportation; transit and ground
passenger transportation; pipeline transportation; scenic and
sightseeing transportation; support activities for transportation;
monetary authorities-central bank; insurance carriers and related
services; real estate; lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets
(except copyrighted works); and educational services. For expanded
industries, the survey will produce estimates of total operating
revenue and operating expenses from the tax-exempt firms in industries
that have a large not-for-profit component.
II. Method of Collection
The Census Bureau will collect this information by mail, fax,
Internet, and a telephone follow-up.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607-0907.
Form Number: QSS-1(A), QSS-1(E), QSS-2(A), QSS-2(E), QSS-3(A), QSS-
3(E), QSS-4(A), QSS-4(E), QSS-5(A), QSS-5(E), QSS-1A-PEO, QSS-1E-PEO.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, not-
for-profit institutions, and government hospitals.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,400.
Estimated Time per Response: QSS-1(A), QSS-1(E), QSS-2(A), QSS-
2(E), QSS-3(A), QSS-3(E), QSS-5(A), QSS-5(E), QSS-1A-PEO, QSS-1E-PEO:
15 minutes, QSS-4(A), QSS-4(E): 10 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,500.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $370,305.
Respondents 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: April 8, 2009.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-8403 Filed 4-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P