[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28011-28013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11737]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection, Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The 
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed extension of the International Price Program U.S. Import and 
Export Price Indexes. A copy of the proposed information collection 
request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below 
in the Addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice on or before July 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also 
may be transmitted by fax to 202-691-5111 (this is not a toll free 
number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background

    The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, produced by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics' International Price Program (IPP), measure price 
change over time for all categories of imported and exported products, 
as well as selected services. The IPP has produced the U.S. Import 
Price Indexes continuously since 1973 and the U.S. Export Price Indexes 
continuously since 1971. The Office of Management and Budget has listed 
the Import and Export Price Indexes as a Principal Federal Economic 
Indicator since 1982. The indexes are widely used in both the public 
and private sectors. The primary public sector use is the deflation of 
the U.S. monthly Trade Statistics and the quarterly estimates of U.S. 
Gross Domestic Product; the indexes also are used in formulating U.S. 
trade policy and in trade negotiations with other countries. In the 
private sector, uses of the Import Price Indexes include market 
analysis, inflation forecasting, contract escalation, and replacement 
cost accounting.
    The IPP indexes are closely followed statistics, and are viewed as 
a key indicator of the economic environment. The U.S. Department of 
Commerce uses the monthly statistics to produce monthly and quarterly 
estimates of inflation-adjusted trade flows. Without continuation of 
data collection, it would be extremely difficult to construct accurate 
estimates of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. In fact, DOL-BLS'

[[Page 28012]]

attempt to curtail publication of the export price indexes beginning in 
FY15 was met with resistance from the Commerce Department who explained 
that a viable substitute is not available. The Beyond the Numbers 
article ``Analyzing alternatives to export price indexes'' (http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-3/analyzing-alternatives-to-export-price-indexes.htm) explores alternatives to using IPP's export price indexes 
to deflate the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and explains why there are 
currently no comparable replacements.
    Additionally, Federal policymakers in the Department of Treasury, 
the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Federal Reserve Board utilize 
these statistics on a regular basis to improve these agencies' 
formulation and evaluation of monetary and fiscal policy and evaluation 
of the general business environment.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. The IPP continues to modernize 
data collection and processing to permit more timely release of its 
indexes, and to reduce reporter burden. The IPP has expanded the use of 
its web application, introduced in 2003 to allow respondents to update 
their data online and more rapidly than using a paper-based form. 
Through March 2015, 89 percent of IPP respondents were providing prices 
via the web application or had agreed to start using this repricing 
method. Field Economists currently offer web repricing to all new 
respondents and at initiation, it is the preferred method of collection 
offered to companies. IPP continues to reduce burden for web 
respondents through system enhancements.
    IPP has also facilitated the registration process for respondents 
who are currently using web repricing to provide prices for the 
Producer Price Index and who have also been initiated to provide prices 
(online) for IPP. The new process allows these multi-program 
respondents to self-register following the steps outlined in a 
pamphlet. Under the old process, IPP staff had to work with PPI staff 
on technical changes before multi-program respondents could set up and 
begin web repricing for IPP. Respondents therefore had to wait 
(multiple days) for an IPP staff member to contact them and walk them 
through the web repricing set-up.
    The Program also continues its multi-year effort to develop a more 
effective sampling and collection strategy for companies that are 
considered major importers or exporters. Research has shown that, while 
hundreds of thousands of companies import and export goods into and 
from the United States each year, the volume of trade (in terms of 
dollar value) is heavily concentrated on a very small percentage of 
these companies. IPP is developing a plan for conducting a pilot for a 
limited set of major companies for the selected alternative resampling 
strategy. This approach would reduce burden by avoiding continual 
visits that are part of the current resampling strategy.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: International Price Program (IPP) U.S. Import and Export 
Price Indexes.
    OMB Number: 1220-0025.
    Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profits.

                                                              Estimated Total Burden Hours
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                                             Total                                       Total          Average  time per
                 Form                     respondents            Frequency             responses             response            Estimated total burden
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Form 3008.............................  ..............  Annually..................  ..............  .........................  .........................
    Imports...........................            1800  ..........................            1800  1.0 hour.................  1800 hours.
    Exports...........................            1200  ..........................            1200  1.0 hour.................  1200 hours.
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        Total.........................            3000  ..........................            3000  .........................  3,000 hours.
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Form 3007D............................  ..............  Monthly...................  ..............  .........................  .........................
    Imports...........................            3000  8.8\1\....................           26400  .4260\2\ hours...........  11246 hours.
    Exports...........................            1950  9.0\1\....................           17550  .4022\3\ hours...........  7059 hours.
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        Total.........................            4950  ..........................           43950  .........................  18305.
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            Totals....................  ..............  ..........................           46950  .........................  21305.
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\1\ During initiation, the respondent determines how many months he/she will need to supply data in a given year based upon how often the company
  changes its pricing information. The average company is requested to supply information 9.0 months per year for exports and 8.8 months per year for
  imports.
\2\ Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 5.113 items = 25.565 minutes/60 =.4260 hours.
\3\ Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 4.826 items = 24.130 minutes/60 = .4022 hours.


[[Page 28013]]

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 12th day of May 2015.
Kimberly D. Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2015-11737 Filed 5-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-24-P