[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64894-64895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27059]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 111007614-1611-01]


Annual Wholesale Trade Survey

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Determination.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of the Census (Census 
Bureau) publishes this notice to announce that the Director of the 
Census Bureau has determined the need to conduct the 2011 Annual 
Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS). The AWTS covers employer firms with 
establishments located in the United States and classified in the 
Wholesale Trade sector as defined by the 2007 North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS). Through this survey, the Census Bureau 
will collect data covering 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. These data are collected to 
provide a sound statistical basis for the formation of policy by 
various government agencies. Results 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.

ADDRESSES: The Census Bureau will provide report forms to businesses 
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, at (301) 763-2758 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections 182, 224, and 225 of Title 13 of 
the United States Code authorize the Census Bureau to take surveys that 
are necessary to produce current data on the subjects covered by the 
major censuses. As part of this authorization, the Census Bureau 
conducts the AWTS to provide

[[Page 64895]]

continuing and timely national statistical data on wholesale trade 
activity for the period between economic censuses. The AWTS covers 
employer firms with establishments located in the United States and 
classified in the Wholesale Trade sector as defined by the 2007 NAICS. 
The 2011 AWTS will collect data for three components of wholesale 
activity: Wholesale distributors; manufacturers' sales branches and 
offices; and agents, brokers, and electronic markets. 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. 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.
    A new sample of firms will be selected for 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.
    Firms were selected for the AWTS survey using a stratified random 
sample based on industry groupings and annual sales size. We will 
provide report forms to the firms covered by this survey in January 
2012 and will require their responses within 30 days after receipt. 
Firms' responses to the AWTS are required by law (Title 13 U.S.C. 
Sections 182, 224, and 225). 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 2011.
    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. Results 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 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 12, 2011.
Robert M. Groves,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2011-27059 Filed 10-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P