[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68023-68024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27160]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 131029910-3910-01]


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

[[Page 68024]]

announce that the Director of the Census Bureau has determined the need 
to conduct the 2013 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. The Census Bureau conducts 
the AWTS to provide continuing and timely national statistical data on 
wholesale trade annually.

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: William Abriatis, Service Sector 
Statistics Division, at (301) 763-3686 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 AWTS to provide continuing and timely national statistical 
data on wholesale trade activity every year 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 2013 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 this survey is 
necessary as these data are not available publicly on a timely basis 
from non-governmental or other government sources.
    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 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. 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 2013.
    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 quinquennial economic census, which was most recently 
conducted in 2012. 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 6, 2013.
John H. Thompson,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2013-27160 Filed 11-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P