[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69239-69240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28881]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 111013624-1626-01]


Annual Retail Trade Survey

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Determination.

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SUMMARY: The United States 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 Retail Trade Survey (ARTS). ARTS covers employer firms with 
establishments located in the United States and classified in the 
Retail Trade and/or Accommodation and Food Services sectors as defined 
by the 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 
Through this survey, the Census Bureau will collect data covering 
annual sales, annual 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, and percent of e-commerce sales to customers located outside the 
United States. 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: Aneta Erdie, Service Sector Statistics 
Division, at (301) 763-4841 or by email 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 ARTS to provide continuing and timely national statistical 
data on retail trade, and accommodation and food services activity for 
the period between economic censuses. ARTS is a continuation of similar 
retail trade surveys conducted each year since 1951

[[Page 69240]]

(except 1954). ARTS covers employer firms with establishments located 
in the United States and classified in the Retail Trade and/or 
Accommodation and Food Services sectors as defined by the 2007 North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS). ARTS provides, on a 
comparable classification basis, annual sales, annual e-commerce sales, 
purchases, total operating expenses, accounts receivables, and year-end 
inventories held inside and outside the United States for 2011. The 
Census Bureau has determined that the conduct of this survey is 
necessary because these data are not available publicly on a timely 
basis from any other sources.
    A new sample of firms will be selected for the 2011 ARTS. 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 prior 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 ARTS for 2012 and 
those for subsequent years will request one year of data until a new 
sample is once again introduced.
    Firms are selected for the ARTS 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 60 days after receipt. 
Firms' responses to the ARTS survey 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, annual e-
commerce sales, purchases, total operating expenses, accounts 
receivables, and year-end inventories held both inside and outside the 
United States 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 including 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 has 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: November 2, 2011.
Robert M. Groves,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2011-28881 Filed 11-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P