[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 32217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12924]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Monthly Retail Trade Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0717.
    Form Number(s): SM-44(12)S, SM-44(12)SE, SM-44(12)SS, SM-44(12)B, 
SM-44(12)BE, SM-44(12)BS, SM-45(12)S, SM-45(12)SE, SM-45(12)SS, SM-
45(12)B, SM-45(12)BE, SM-45(12)BS, SM-72(12)S, and SM-20(12)I.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden Hours: 14,427.
    Number of Respondents: 10,305.
    Average Hours per Response: 7 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) provides 
estimates of monthly retail sales, end-of-month merchandise 
inventories, and quarterly e-commerce sales of retailers in the United 
States. In addition, the survey also provides an estimate of monthly 
sales at food service establishments and drinking places.
    Sales, inventories, and e-commerce data provide a current 
statistical picture of the retail portion of consumer activity. The 
sales and inventories estimates in the MRTS measure current trends of 
economic activity that occur in the United States. The survey estimates 
provide valuable information for economic policy decisions and actions 
by the government and are widely used by private businesses, trade 
organizations, professional associations, and others for market 
research and analysis. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) uses these 
data in determining the consumption portion of Gross Domestic Product 
(GDP).
    Retail and Food Services Sales during 2013 amounted to $4.5 
trillion. The estimates produced in the MRTS are critical to the 
accurate measurement of total economic activity. The estimates of 
retail sales represent all operating receipts, including receipts from 
wholesale sales made at retail locations and services rendered as part 
of the sale of the goods, by businesses that primarily sell at retail. 
The sales estimates include sales made on credit as well as on a cash 
basis, but exclude receipts from sales taxes and interest charges from 
credit sales. Also excluded is non-operating income from such services 
as investments and real estate.
    The estimates of merchandise inventories owned by retailers 
represent all merchandise located in retail stores, warehouses, 
offices, or in transit for distribution to retail establishments. The 
estimates of merchandise inventories exclude fixtures and supplies not 
held for sale, as well as merchandise held on consignment owned by 
others. BEA uses inventories data to determine the investment portion 
of the GDP.
    Retail e-commerce sales are estimated from the same sample used in 
the MRTS to estimate preliminary and final U.S. retail sales.
    The MRTS sample is updated every five years to account for new 
retail employer businesses (including those selling via the Internet), 
business deaths, and other changes to the retail business universe. 
Research was conducted to ensure that retail firms selected in the MRTS 
sample engaged in e-commerce are representative of the universe of e-
commerce retailers. Total e-commerce sales for 2013 were estimated at 
$263 billion.
    We publish retail sales and inventories estimates based on the 
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
    BEA is the primary Federal user of data collected in the MRTS. BEA 
uses the information in its preparation of the National Income and 
Products Accounts, and its benchmark and annual input-output tables. 
Statistics provided from retail sales and inventories estimates are 
used in the calculation of GDP. If the survey were not conducted, BEA 
would lack comprehensive data from the retail sector. This would 
adversely affect the reliability of the National Income and Products 
Accounts and GDP.
    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses the data as input to 
their Producer Price Indexes and in developing productivity 
measurements. The data are also used for gauging current economic 
trends of the economy. Private businesses use the retail sales and 
inventories data to compute business activity indexes. The private 
sector also uses retail sales as a reliable indicator of consumer 
activity.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 182.

    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written Comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publications of this notice 
to [email protected] or faxed to (202) 395-5806,

    Dated: May 30, 2014.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-12924 Filed 6-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P