[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 57144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26558]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 0909231319-91320-01]


Annual Retail Trade Survey

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of determination.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) publishes this notice 
to announce that the Director has determined the need to conduct the 
Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS). Through this survey, the Census 
Bureau will collect data covering annual sales, e-commerce sales, year-
end inventories held inside and outside the United States, total 
operating expenses, purchases, accounts receivables, and for selected 
industries merchandise line sales, percent of sales by class of 
customer, and percent of e-commerce sales to customers located outside 
the United States.

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: Aneta Erdie, Service Sector Statistics 
Division, at (301) 763-4841 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ARTS is a continuation of similar retail 
trade surveys conducted each year since 1951 (except 1954). It 
provides, on a comparable classification basis, annual sales, e-
commerce sales, purchases, total operating expenses, accounts 
receivables, and year-end inventories held inside and outside the 
United States for 2009. 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 governmental 
sources.
    The Census Bureau will require a selected sample of firms operating 
retail, accommodation, and food services establishments in the United 
States to report in the 2009 ARTS. 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, accounts receivables, and year-end 
inventories held both inside and outside the United States 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 ARTS to 
provide continuing and timely national statistical data on retail 
trade, and accommodation and food services activity for the period 
between economic censuses. For 2009, the survey will, as it has in the 
past, operate as a sample of retail, accommodation, and food services 
companies. 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 the 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 Annual Retail Trade Survey under OMB Control Number 
0607-0013.
    Based upon the foregoing, I have directed that an 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. E9-26558 Filed 11-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P