[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27799-27801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11400]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The 
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed extension of the ``International Price Program--U.S. Import 
and Export Product Information.'' A copy of the proposed information 
collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual 
listed below in the Addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
Addresses section of this notice on or before July 10, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Written

[[Page 27800]]

comments also may be transmitted by fax to 202-691-5111 (this is not a 
toll free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See Addresses section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, produced by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics' International Price Program (IPP), measure price 
change over time for all categories of imported and exported products, 
as well as selected services. The IPP has produced the U.S. Import 
Price Indexes continuously since 1973 and the U.S. Export Price Indexes 
continuously since 1971. The Office of Management and Budget has listed 
the Import and Export Price Indexes as a Principal Federal Economic 
Indicator since 1982. The indexes are widely used in both the public 
and private sectors. The primary public sector use is the deflation of 
the U.S. monthly Trade Statistics and the quarterly estimates of U.S. 
Gross Domestic Product; the indexes also are used in formulating U.S. 
trade policy and in trade negotiations with other countries. In the 
private sector, uses of the Import Price Indexes include market 
analysis, inflation forecasting, contract escalation, and replacement 
cost accounting.
    The IPP indexes are closely followed statistics, and are viewed as 
a sensitive indicator of the economic environment. The U.S. Department 
of Commerce uses the monthly statistics to produce monthly and 
quarterly estimates of inflation-adjusted trade flows. Without 
continuation of data collection, it would be extremely difficult to 
construct accurate estimates of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. In 
addition, Federal policymakers in the Department of Treasury, the 
Council of Economic Advisers, and the Federal Reserve Board utilize 
these statistics on a regular basis to improve these agencies' 
formulation and evaluation of monetary and fiscal policy and evaluation 
of the general business environment.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. The IPP continues to modernize 
data collection and processing to permit more timely release of its 
indexes, and to reduce reporter burden. The IPP has expanded the use of 
its web application, introduced in 2003 to allow respondents to update 
their data online and more rapidly than using a paper-based form. 
Through February 2012, 82 percent of IPP respondents were providing 
prices via the web application or had agreed to start using this 
repricing method. Field Economists currently offer web repricing to all 
new respondents and at initiation, it is the preferred method of 
collection offered to companies.
    IPP has also implemented a better screening process for identifying 
out-of-scope trade, resulting in fewer out-of-scope shipments 
identified during the initiation process.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: International Price Program (IPP) U.S. Import and Export 
Price Indexes.
    OMB Number: 1220-0025.
    Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profits.

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                                                                                   Average time      Estimated
             Form                   Total          Frequency           Total       per response    total burden
                                 respondents                         responses        (hours)         (hours)
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Form 3008....................  ..............  Annually.........  ..............  ..............  ..............
    Imports..................            1800                               1800          1.0               1800
    Exports..................            1200                               1200          1.0               1200
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total................            3000                               3000                           3,000
Form 3007D...................  ..............  Monthly..........  ..............  ..............  ..............
    Imports..................            3300  \1\ 8.2..........           27060        \2\.4106           11111
    Exports..................            2200  \1\ 8.0..........           17600        \3\.3771            6637
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total................            5500                              44660                           17748
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Totals...........  ..............  .................           47660  ..............           20748
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\1\ During initiation, the respondent determines how many months he/she will need to supply data in a given year
  based upon how often the company changes its pricing information. The average company is requested to supply
  information 8.0 months per year for exports and 8.2 months per year for imports.
\2\ Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 4.927 items = 24.635 minutes/60 = .4106
  hours.
\3\ Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 4.525 items = 22.625 minutes/60 = .3771
  hours.


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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 7th day of May 2012.
Kimberley D. Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2012-11400 Filed 5-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P