[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22483-22484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09858]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 170403351-7351-01]


Current Mandatory Business Surveys

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of determination.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (U.S. Census Bureau) has determined 
that it is conducting the following current mandatory business surveys 
in 2017: Annual Retail Trade Survey, Annual Wholesale Trade Survey, 
Service Annual Survey, Company Organization Survey, Annual Survey of 
Manufactures, Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders Survey, Annual Capital 
Expenditures Survey, Business R&D and Innovation Survey, Annual Survey 
of Entrepreneurs, and the Business & Professional Classification 
Report. We have determined that data collected from these surveys are 
needed to aid the efficient performance of essential governmental 
functions and have significant application to the needs of the public 
and industry. The data derived from these surveys, most of which have 
been conducted for many years, are not publicly available from 
nongovernmental or other governmental sources.

ADDRESSES: The Census Bureau will make available the reporting 
instructions to the organizations included in the surveys. Additional 
copies are available upon written request to the Director, U.S. Census 
Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-0101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Orsini, Assistant Director for 
Economic Programs, U.S. Census Bureau, 5H160, Washington, DC 20233, 
Telephone: 301-763-2558; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The surveys described herein are authorized 
by title 13, United States Code, sections 131 and 182 and are necessary 
to furnish current data on the subjects covered by the major censuses. 
These surveys are made mandatory under the provisions of sections 224 
and 225 of title 13, United States Code. These surveys will provide 
continuing and timely national statistical data for the period between 
economic censuses. The data collected in the surveys will be within the 
general scope and nature of those inquiries covered in the economic 
census. The next economic census will be conducted in 2018 for the 
reference year 2017.

Annual Retail Trade Survey

    The Annual Retail Trade Survey collects data on annual sales, sales 
tax, e-commerce sales, year-end inventories held inside and outside the 
United States, total operating expenses, purchases, and accounts 
receivable from a sample of employer firms with establishments 
classified in retail trade as defined by the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS). These data serve as a benchmark for the 
more frequent estimates compiled from the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. 
A new sample will be introduced for the collection of data covering the 
2016 reference year.

Annual Wholesale Trade Survey

    The Annual Wholesale Trade Survey collects data on annual sales, e-
commerce sales, year-end inventories held both inside and outside of 
the United States, method of inventory valuation, total operating 
expenses, purchases, gross selling value, and commissions from a sample 
of employer firms with establishments classified in wholesale trade as 
defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 
These data serve as a benchmark for the more frequent estimates 
compiled from the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey. A new sample will be 
introduced for the collection of data covering the 2016 reference year.

[[Page 22484]]

Service Annual Survey

    The Service Annual Survey collects annual data on total revenue, 
select detailed revenue, total and detailed expenses, and e-commerce 
revenue for a sample of businesses in the service industries, including 
Utilities; Transportation and Warehousing; Information; Finance and 
Insurance; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; Professional, 
Scientific, and Technical Services; Administration and Support and 
Waste Management and Remediation Services; Educational Services; Health 
Care and Social Assistance; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation; 
Accommodation and Food Services; and Other Services as defined by the 
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). These data serve 
as a benchmark for the more frequent estimates compiled from the 
Quarterly Services Survey. A new sample will be introduced for the 
collection of data covering the 2016 reference year, beginning with 
data collection in January 2017.

Company Organization Survey

    The Company Organization Survey collects annual data on ownership 
or control by a domestic or foreign parent and ownership of foreign 
affiliates; research and development; company activities such as 
employees from a professional employer organization, operational 
status, mid-March employment, first-quarter payroll, and annual payroll 
of establishments from a sample of multi-establishment enterprises in 
order to update and maintain a centralized, multipurpose Business 
Register (BR).

Annual Survey of Manufactures

    The Annual Survey of Manufactures collects annual industry 
statistics, such as total value of shipments, employment, payroll, 
workers' hours, capital expenditures, cost of materials consumed, 
supplemental labor costs, and so forth. This survey is conducted on a 
sample basis, and covers all manufacturing industries, including data 
on plants under construction but not yet in operation. The ASM data are 
used to benchmark and reconcile monthly data on manufacturing 
production and inventories.

Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders Survey

    The Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders Survey collects annual data on 
sales and unfilled orders in order to provide annual benchmarks for 
unfilled orders for the monthly Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, 
and Orders (M3) survey. The Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders Survey data 
are also used to determine whether it is necessary to collect unfilled 
orders data for specific industries on a monthly basis, as some 
industries are not requested to provide unfilled orders data in the M3 
Survey.

Annual Capital Expenditures Survey

    The Annual Capital Expenditures Survey collects annual data on the 
amount of business expenditures for new and used structures and 
equipment from a sample of non-farm, non-governmental companies, 
organizations, and associations. Both employer and nonemployer 
companies are included in the survey. The data are the sole source of 
investment in buildings and other structures, machinery, and equipment 
by all private nonfarm businesses in the United States, by the 
investing industry, and by kind of investment. Every five years, 
detailed data by types of structures and types of equipment are 
collected from companies with employees. These detailed data will be 
collected for the 2016 reference year, beginning with data collection 
in March 2017.

Business R&D and Innovation Survey

    The Business R&D and Innovation Survey (BRDIS) collects annual data 
on spending for research and development activities by businesses. This 
survey replaced the Survey of Industrial Research and Development that 
had been collected since the 1950s. The BRDIS collects global as well 
as domestic spending information, more detailed information about the 
R&D workforce, and information regarding innovation and intellectual 
property from U.S. businesses. The Census Bureau collects and compiles 
this information in accordance with a joint project agreement between 
the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Census Bureau. The NSF 
posts the joint project's information results on their Web site. 
Beginning in 2017, and for the 2016 reference year, the BRDIS will 
collect R&D and innovation statistics from micro businesses, or firms 
with less than 5 employees.

Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs

    The Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs (ASE) collects annual data from 
a sample of employer firms on the characteristics of the business and 
business owner(s). Estimates are produced for the number of firms, 
sales/receipts, annual payroll, and employment by gender, ethnicity, 
race, and veteran status. The ASE introduces a new topical module each 
year to measure a relevant business component related to business 
productivity and growth. The module fielded in 2017 for reference year 
2016 will cover business advice and planning and regulations. The ASE 
is a joint effort funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the 
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Census Bureau.

Business & Professional Classification Report

    The Business & Professional Classification Report collects one-time 
data on a firm's type of business activity from a sample of newly 
organized employer firms. The data are used to update the sampling 
frames for our current business surveys to reflect these newly opened 
establishments. Additionally, the business classification data will 
help ensure businesses are directed to complete the correct report in 
the economic census.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    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 currently valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number. In accordance with the PRA, 44 U.S.C., Chapter 
45, OMB approved the surveys described in this notice under the 
following OMB control numbers: Annual Retail Trade Survey, 0607-0013; 
Annual Wholesale Trade Survey, 0607-0195; Service Annual Survey, 0607-
0422; Company Organization Survey, 0607-0444; Annual Survey of 
Manufactures, 0607-0449; Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders Survey, 0607-
0561; Annual Capital Expenditures Survey, 0607-0782; Business R&D and 
Innovation Survey, 0607-0912; Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs, 0607-
0986; and Business & Professional Classification Report, 0607-0189.
    Based upon the foregoing, I have directed that the current 
mandatory business surveys be conducted for the purpose of collecting 
these data.

    Dated: May 8, 2017.
John H. Thompson,
Director, U.S. Census Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2017-09858 Filed 5-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P