[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15939-15940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6599]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual 
Wholesale Trade Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

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 May 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental

[[Page 15940]]

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 John Miller, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8K081, 
Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-2758.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) covers employer firms with 
establishments located in the United States and classified in wholesale 
trade as defined by the North American Industry Classification System 
(NAICS). This sector comprises two main types of wholesalers: (1) 
Merchant wholesalers that sell goods on their own account (including 
sales offices and sales branches, except retail stores, maintained by 
manufacturing, refining, or mining enterprises apart from their plants 
or mines for the purpose of marketing their products) and (2) business 
to business electronic markets, agents, and brokers that arrange sales 
and purchases for others generally for a commission or fee.
    Firms are selected for this survey using a stratified random sample 
where strata are defined by industry and annual sales size. The sample, 
consisting of approximately 7,600 wholesale businesses, is selected 
from the Business Register, which contains all Employer Identification 
Numbers (EINs) and listed establishment locations. The sample is 
updated quarterly to reflect employer ``births'' and ``deaths'' by 
adding new employer businesses identified in the Business and 
Professional Classification Survey and deleting firms and EINs when it 
is determined they are no longer active.
    Respondents are separated into three classifications: (1) Merchant 
wholesale establishments, excluding manufacturers' sales branches and 
offices; (2) manufacturers' sales branches and offices; and (3) agents, 
brokers, and business to business electronic markets. The first 
classification is asked to provide sales, e-commerce, inventories, 
method of inventory valuation, inventories held outside the United 
States, purchases, and operating expenses. The second classification is 
asked to provide sales, e-commerce, inventories, method of inventory 
valuation, inventories held outside the United States, and operating 
expenses. The third classification is asked to provide commissions, 
sales on their own account, and operating expenses. These data are 
collected to provide a sound statistical basis for the formation of 
policy by various government agencies. These data are used to satisfy a 
variety of public and business needs such as economic market analysis, 
company performance, and forecasting future demands. Results will be 
available, at the United States summary level, for selected wholesale 
industries approximately fourteen months after the end of the reference 
year.
    A new sample will be introduced with the 2011 AWTS. It is expected 
that approximately 60-70% of the companies that are asked to report 
will be doing so for the first time (and, consequently, 60-70% of the 
old sample will no longer be asked to report). In order to link 
estimates from the new and prior samples, we will be asking companies 
to provide data for 2011 and 2010. The 2012 AWTS and subsequent years 
will request one year of data until a new sample is once again 
introduced.
    An additional change will occur with the 2012 AWTS. We will request 
data on detailed operating expenses that were previously requested 
under a separate supplemental mailing (conducted every 5 years). The 
last supplemental mailing was conducted in conjunction with the 2007 
AWTS under OMB No. 0607-0942. While the wholesale portion of that 
program will be collapsed into the AWTS, we will continue to ask only 
the additional detailed expense questions every 5 years. These detailed 
expense questions are only applicable to the merchant wholesale 
establishments, excluding manufacturers' sales branches and offices.

II. Method of Collection

    We collect this information by Internet, fax, mail, and telephone.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0195.
    Form Number: SA-42, SA-42A, SA-42(MSBO), SA-42A(MSBO), SA-42(AGBR), 
SA-42A(AGBR).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Wholesale firms located in the United States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,600.
    Estimated Time per Response: 74 minutes (3-year average).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,405 hours (3-year average).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The total cost to respondents is 
estimated to be $272,839.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 182, 224, 
and 225.

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: March 16, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-6599 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P