[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 1618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00507]



[[Page 1618]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 151221999-5999-01]


Annual Retail 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 
2015 Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS). ARTS covers employer firms with 
establishments located in the United States and classified in the 
Retail Trade and/or Accommodation and Food Services sectors as defined 
by the 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 
Through this survey, the Census Bureau will collect data covering 
annual sales, annual e-commerce sales, year-end inventories held inside 
and outside the United States, total operating expenses, purchases, 
accounts receivables, and, for selected industries, merchandise line 
sales. 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 ARTS to 
provide continuing and timely national statistical data on retail 
trade, and accommodation and food services activity annually.

ADDRESSES: The Census Bureau will provide electronic worksheets 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: Chris Savage, Economy-Wide Statistics 
Division, at (301) 763-4834 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 ARTS to provide continuing and timely 
national statistical data on retail trade, and accommodation and food 
services activity for the period between economic censuses. ARTS is a 
continuation of similar retail trade surveys conducted each year since 
1951 (except 1954). ARTS covers employer firms with establishments 
located in the United States and classified in the Retail Trade and/or 
Accommodation and Food Services sectors as defined by the 2007 North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS). ARTS provides, on a 
comparable classification basis, annual sales, annual e-commerce sales, 
year-end inventories held inside and outside the United States, total 
operating expenses, purchases, accounts receivables, and, for selected 
industries, merchandise line sales for 2015. The Census Bureau has 
determined that the conduct of this survey is necessary because these 
data are not available publicly on a timely basis from any other 
sources.
    Firms are selected for the ARTS survey using a stratified random 
sample based on industry groupings and annual sales size. We will 
provide electronic worksheets to the firms covered by this survey in 
March 2016, and will require their responses within 40 days after 
receipt. Firms' responses to the ARTS survey 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, 
annual e-commerce sales, year-end inventories held inside and outside 
the United States, total operating expenses, purchases, accounts 
receivables, and, for selected industries, merchandise line sales for 
2015.
    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 including 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 has approved the Annual Retail Trade Survey under OMB Control 
Number 0607-0013.
    Based upon the foregoing, I have directed that an annual survey be 
conducted for the purpose of collecting these data.

John H. Thompson,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2016-00507 Filed 1-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P