[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 218 (Friday, November 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67331-67332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27446]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 121010535-2575-01]


Annual Wholesale 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 
2012 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, sales 
taxes, purchases, total and detailed 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

[[Page 67332]]

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 AWTS to provide continuing and timely 
national statistical data on wholesale trade. The 2012 AWTS is a 
separate collection from and is not part of the 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: Randy Moore, Service Sector Statistics 
Division, at (301) 763-7231 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 AWTS to provide continuing and timely 
national statistical data on wholesale trade activity for the period 
between economic censuses and, for this year, during the economic 
census. 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 2012 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, sales taxes, e-commerce sales, year-end 
inventories held inside and outside theUnited States, purchases, total 
and detailed operating expenses. For manufacturers' sales branches and 
offices, the Census Bureau will collect data covering annual sales, 
sales taxes, 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.
    For the 2012 AWTS, we will request data for wholesale distributors 
on detailed operating expenses that were previously requested under a 
separate supplemental mailing (conducted every 5 years). The last 
supplemental mailing was conducted for 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 only ask the detailed 
expense questions to wholesale distributors every 5 years. Also for the 
2012 AWTS, we will request data on sales taxes, which is asked as a 
part of the AWTS every 5 to 6 years. The last time we requested sales 
tax data was for the 2006 AWTS.
    Firms were selected for the AWTS 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 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, sales taxes, 
purchases, total and detailed operating expenses, year-end inventories 
held both inside and outside the Unites States, commissions, total 
operating revenue, and gross selling value, for 2012.
    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: November 2, 2012.
Thomas L. Mesenbourg, Jr.,
Acting Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2012-27446 Filed 11-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P