[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 2409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00501]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Monthly 
Wholesale Trade Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before March 17, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to to William Abriatis, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 
8K081, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-3686 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey (MWTS) provides the only 
continuous measure of monthly sales, end-of-month inventories, and 
inventories/sales ratios in the United States by selected kinds of 
business for merchant wholesalers, excluding manufacturers' sales 
branches and offices. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses this 
information to improve the inventory valuation adjustments applied to 
estimates of the Gross Domestic Product. The Bureau of Labor Statistics 
uses the data as input to their Producer Price Indexes and in 
developing productivity measurements.
    Estimates produced from the MWTS are based on a probability sample 
and are published on the North American Industry Classification System 
(NAICS) basis. The sample design consists of small, medium, and large 
cases requested to report sales and inventories each month. The sample, 
consisting of about 4,200 wholesale businesses, is drawn from the 
Business Register, which contains all Employer Identification Numbers 
(EINs) and listed establishment locations. The sample is updated 
quarterly to reflect employer business ``births'' and ``deaths''; 
adding new employer businesses identified in the Business and 
Professional Classification Survey and deleting firms and EINs when it 
is determined they are no longer active.
    The MWTS will continue to generate its monthly report form through 
a print-on demand system. This system allows us to tailor the survey 
instrument to a specific industry. For example, it will print an 
additional instruction for a particular NAICS code. This system also 
reduces the time and cost of preparing mailout packages that contain 
unique variable data, while improving the look and quality of the 
products produced.

II. Method of Collection

    We collect this information by Internet, fax, mail, and telephone 
follow-up.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0190.
    Form Number: SM4212-A and SM4212-E.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: U.S. merchant wholesale firms, excluding 
manufacturers' sales branches
    and offices.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 7 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,880 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondent for fiscal 
year 2013 is estimated to be $179,634.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 9, 2014.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-00501 Filed 1-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P