[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 64463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25909]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 121010534-2534-01]


Annual Retail 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 2012 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 and detailed 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. The Census Bureau conducts the ARTS to 
provide continuing and timely national statistical data on retail 
trade, and accommodation and food services activity annually. The 2012 
ARTS is a separate collection and is not part of 2012 Economic Census.

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 (U.S.C.) 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 and, for 
this year, during the economic census. ARTS is a continuation of 
similar retail trade surveys conducted each year since 1951 (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 and detailed operating expenses, accounts receivables, and year-
end inventories held inside and outside the United States for 2012. 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.
    For the 2012 ARTS, we will request data on detailed operating 
expenses that were previously requested under a separate supplemental 
mailing (conducted every five years). The last supplemental mailing was 
conducted for the 2007 ARTS under OMB Control Number 0607-0942. While 
the retail portion of that program will be collapsed into the ARTS, we 
will continue to ask only the additional detailed expense questions 
every five years.
    Firms are selected for the ARTS 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 February 2013, and 
will require their responses within 50 days after receipt. Firms' 
responses to the ARTS 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 and detailed operating expenses, accounts 
receivables, and year-end inventories held both inside and outside the 
United States for 2012.
    The data collected in this survey 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. Sec. Sec.  
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: October 16, 2012.
Thomas L. Mesenbourg, Jr.,
Acting Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2012-25909 Filed 10-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P