[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 210 (Monday, November 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56572-56573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26285]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 0910011333-91334-01]


Annual Wholesale Trade Survey

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Determination.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) publishes this notice 
to announce that the Director has determined the need to conduct the 
Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS). Through this survey, the Census 
Bureau will collect data on annual sales, e-commerce sales, purchases, 
total operating expenses, year-end inventories held both inside and 
outside the United States, commissions, total operating revenue, and 
gross selling value, for three components of wholesale activity: 
wholesale distributors; manufacturers' sales branches and offices and 
agents, brokers, and electronic markets.

ADDRESSES: The Census Bureau will furnish report forms to organizations 
included in the survey. Additional copies are available upon written 
request to the Director, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-0101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Miller, Service Sector Statistics 
Division, on (301) 763-2758 or by e-mail on [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AWTS is conducted each year for three 
components of wholesale activity: Wholesale distributors; 
manufacturers' sales branches and offices; and agents, brokers, and 
electronic markets. This survey collects information on annual sales, 
e-commerce sales, purchases, total operating expenses, year-end 
inventories held both inside and outside the Unites States, 
commissions, total operating revenue, and gross selling value. For 
wholesale distributors, the Census Bureau will collect data covering 
sales, e-commerce sales, year-end inventories held inside and outside 
the United States, purchases, and total operating expenses. For 
manufacturers' sales branches and offices, the Census Bureau will 
collect data covering annual sales, e-commerce sales, year-end 
inventories held inside and outside the United States and total 
operating expenses. For agents, brokers, and electronic markets, the 
Census Bureau will collect data covering commissions, total operating 
revenue, gross selling value, and total operating expenses. For more 
information on the components of wholesale activity covered under this 
survey, please see the North American Industry Classification System 
Web site at http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/index.html. The Census 
Bureau has determined that the conduct of this survey is necessary as 
these data are not available publicly on a timely basis from non-
governmental or other government sources.
    The Census Bureau will require a selected sample of firms engaging 
in the three covered wholesale activities in the United States to 
report in the 2009

[[Page 56573]]

AWTS. Companies are selected for this survey using a stratified random 
sample based on annual sales size with a company's probability of 
selection increasing with their annual sales size. We will furnish 
report forms to the firms covered by this survey in January 2010 and 
will require their submissions within 30 days after receipt. The sample 
of firms selected will provide, with measurable reliability, statistics 
on annual sales, e-commerce sales, purchases, total operating expenses, 
year-end inventories held both inside and outside the Unites States, 
commissions, total operating revenue, and gross selling value, for 
2009.
    Sections 182, 224, and 225 of title 13 of the United States Code 
authorizes the Census Bureau to take surveys that are necessary to 
furnish current data on the subjects covered by the major censuses. As 
part of this authorization, the Census Bureau conducts the AWTS to 
provide continuing and timely national statistics data on wholesale 
trade activity for the period between economic censuses. For 2009, the 
survey will, as it has in the past, operate as a sample of wholesale 
distributors; manufacturers' sales branches and offices; and agent, 
brokers, and electronic markets. The data collected in this survey will 
be similar to that collected in the past and within the general scope 
and nature of those inquiries covered in the economic census. These 
data are collected to provide a sound statistical basis for the 
formation of policy by various government agencies. These data will be 
available for use for a variety of public and business needs such as 
economic and market analysis, company performance, and forecasting 
future demand.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with, a collection of information subject to requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information 
displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control 
number. In accordance with the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, OMB approved 
the AWTS under OMB control number 0607-0195.
    Based upon the foregoing, I have directed that the annual survey be 
conducted for the purpose of collecting these data.

    Dated: October 28, 2009.
Robert M. Groves,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. E9-26285 Filed 10-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P