[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3081-3082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-945]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2012 Economic 
Census Covering the Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services 
Sectors

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

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 March 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Fay Dorsett, U.S. Census Bureau, Service Sector 
Statistics Division, HQ-8K071, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 
20233-0001 (301-763-2687 or via the Internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The economic census, conducted under authority of Title 13, United 
States Code (USC), is the primary source of facts about the structure 
and functioning of the Nation's economy. Economic statistics serve as 
part of the framework for the national accounts and provide essential 
information for government, business, and the general public. Economic 
data are the Census Bureau's primary program commitment during 
nondecennial census years. The 2012 Economic Census covering the Retail 
Trade and Accommodation and Food Services sectors (as defined by the 
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)) will measure the 
economic activity of more than 1.7 million establishments. The 
information collected will produce basic statistics by kind of business 
on the number of establishments, sales, payroll, and employment. It 
will also yield a variety of subject statistics, including sales by 
product line, sales by class of customer, and other industry-specific 
measures. Primary strategies for reducing burden in Census Bureau 
economic data collections are to increase reporting through 
standardized questionnaires and broader electronic data collection 
methods.

II. Method of Collection

Mail Selection Procedures

    Establishments in the Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food 
Services sectors of the economic census will be selected from the 
Census Bureau's Business Register for a mail canvass. To be eligible 
for selection, an establishment will be required to satisfy

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the following conditions: (i) It must be classified in the Retail Trade 
or Accommodation and Food Services sector; (ii) it must be an active 
operating establishment of a multi-establishment firm (i.e., a firm 
that operates at more than one physical location), or it must be a 
single-establishment firm with payroll (i.e., a firm operating at only 
one physical location); and (iii) it must be located in one of the 50 
States or the District of Columbia. Mail selection procedures will 
distinguish the following groups of establishments:
1. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms
    All active operating establishments of multi-establishment firms 
will be included in the mail component of the potential respondent 
universe. We estimate that the 2012 Economic Census mail canvasses for 
the Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services sectors will 
include approximately 710,000 establishments of multi-establishment 
firms.
2. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll
    As an initial step in the selection process, we will conduct a 
study of the potential respondent universe. This study will produce a 
set of industry-specific payroll cutoffs that we will use to 
distinguish large versus small single-establishment firms within each 
industry or kind of business. This payroll size distinction will affect 
selection as follows:
a. Large Single-Establishment Firms
    All single-establishment firms having annualized payroll (from 
Federal administrative records) that equals or exceeds the cutoff for 
their industry will be included in the mail component of the potential 
respondent universe. We estimate that the 2012 Economic Census mail 
canvasses for the Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services 
sectors will include approximately 274,000 large single-establishment 
firms.
b. Small Single-Establishment Firms
    A sample of single-establishment firms having annualized payroll 
below the cutoff for their industry will be included in the mail 
component of the potential respondent universe. Sampling strata and 
corresponding probabilities of selection will be determined by a study 
of the potential respondent universe conducted shortly before the mail 
selection operations begin. We estimate that the 2012 Economic Census 
mail canvasses for the Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services 
sectors will include approximately 217,000 small single-establishment 
firms selected in this sample.
    All remaining single-establishment firms with payroll will be 
represented in the census by data from Federal administrative records. 
Generally, we will not include these small employers in the census mail 
canvasses. However, administrative records sometimes have fundamental 
industry classification deficiencies that make them unsuitable for use 
in producing detailed industry statistics by geographic area. When we 
find such a deficiency, we will mail the firm a census classification 
form. We estimate that the 2012 Economic Census mail canvasses for the 
Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services sectors will include 
approximately 133,000 small single-establishment firms that receive 
these forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0927.
    Form Number: The 33 standard forms, seven classification forms, and 
two ownership or control fliers used to collect information from 
businesses in these sectors of the Economic Census are tailored to 
specific business practices and are too numerous to list separately in 
this notice.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State or local governments, businesses, or other 
for profit or non-profit institutions or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,334,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: .921 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,228,600.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $35,641,686.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 131 and 224.

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: January 12, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-945 Filed 1-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P