[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 111 (Thursday, June 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27824-27826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13720]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection, Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c) (2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The 
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed extension of the ``International Price Program--U.S. Import 
and Export Product Information.'' A copy of the proposed information 
collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual 
listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
Addresses section of this notice on or before August 10, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212. Written comments 
also may be transmitted by fax to 202-691-5111 (this is not a toll free 
number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, produced by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics' International Price Program (IPP), measure price 
change over time for all categories of imported and exported products, 
as well as many services. The IPP has produced the U.S. Import Price 
Indexes continuously since 1973 and the U.S. Export Price Indexes 
continuously since 1971. The Office of Management and Budget has listed 
the Import and Export Price Indexes as a Principal Federal Economic 
Indicator since 1982. The indexes are widely used in both the public 
and private sectors. The primary public sector use is the deflation of 
the U.S. Trade Statistics and the Gross Domestic Product; the indexes 
also are used in formulating U.S. trade policy and in trade 
negotiations with other countries. In the private sector, uses of the 
Import Price Indexes include market analysis, inflation forecasting, 
contract escalation, and replacement cost accounting.
    The IPP indexes are closely followed statistics, and are viewed as 
a sensitive indicator of the economic environment.

[[Page 27825]]

The U.S. Department of Commerce uses the monthly statistics to produce 
monthly and quarterly estimates of inflation-adjusted trade flows. 
Without continuation of data collection, it would be extremely 
difficult to construct accurate estimates of the U.S. Gross Domestic 
Product. In addition, Federal policymakers in the Department of 
Treasury, the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Federal Reserve 
Board utilize these statistics on a regular basis to improve these 
agencies' formulation and evaluation of monetary and fiscal policy and 
evaluation of the general business environment.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. The IPP continues to modernize 
data collection and processing to permit more timely release of its 
indexes, and to reduce reporter burden. Recently, the IPP implemented 
changes to its web repricing application to reduce burden on IPP 
reporters providing prices via the internet. Rather than requiring the 
respondent to type in the account number on the logon screen, the 
system now displays this information automatically when the respondent 
accesses the web repricing application by clicking the link in the 
`time to reprice' e-mail. Also, the application now allows respondents 
to provide general comments which apply to all items (rather than 
directing them to retype the comment for all applicable items) and all 
e-mails sent to reporters using web repricing can now include a cc to 
one additional company contact. In addition, IPP completed a study 
aimed at reducing Out of Scope rates, which upon implementation of the 
various proposals will further reduce respondent burden.
    The IPP has also expanded the use of its Web application, 
introduced in 2003 to allow respondents to update their data online. 
Through April 2009, 65 percent of IPP respondents were providing prices 
via the Web application or had agreed to start using this repricing 
method. Field Economists currently offer Web repricing to all new 
respondents and at initiation, it is the preferred method of collection 
offered to companies.
    The collection of IPP data was previously collected under OMB 
Number 1220-0025 for Export Information and 1220-0026 for Import 
Information. Upon approval of this package information for both Export 
and Import information will be collected under OMB Number 1220-0025 and 
OMB Number 1220-0026 will be discontinued.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: International Price Program (IPP) U.S. Import and Export 
Price Indexes.
    OMB Number: 1220-0025.
    Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profits.

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                                                                                   Average time      Estimated
              Form                     Total         Frequency         Total       per response    total burden
                                    respondents                      responses        (hours)          hours
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Form 3008.......................                        Annually
Imports.........................            2000  ..............            2000             1.0            2000
Exports.........................            1400  ..............            1400             1.0            1400
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    Total.......................            3400  ..............            3400  ..............            3400
                                 ===============================================================================
Form 3007D......................                         Monthly
Imports.........................            3500         \1\ 6.8           23800       \2\ .7301           16734
Exports.........................            2400         \1\ 6.8           16320       \3\ .6441           10512
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    Total.......................            5900  ..............           40120  ..............           27246
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals..................  ..............  ..............           43520  ..............           30646
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\1\ During initiation, the respondent determines how many months he/she will need to supply data in a given year
  based upon how often the company changes its pricing information. The average company is requested to supply
  information 6.8 months out of every year.
\2\ Time to reprice is based upon 9 minutes of response time per item x 4.687 items = 42.183 minutes/60 = .7031
  hours.
\3\ Time to reprice is based upon 9 minutes of response time per item x 4.294 items = 38.646 minutes/60 = .6441
  hours.


[[Page 27826]]

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 5th day of June 2009.
Kimberley D. Hill,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. E9-13720 Filed 6-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P