[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2019)] [Notices] [Pages 34949-34950] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2019-15363] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of the Secretary Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview and Diary ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview and Diary,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited. DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before August 19, 2019. ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge from the RegInfo.gov website at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201903-1220-001 (this link will only become active on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting Frederick Licari by telephone at 202-693-8073, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [email protected]. Submit comments about this request by mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-BLS, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor--OASAM, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Licari by telephone at 202- 693-8073, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks approval under the PRA for revisions to the Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview and Diary. The Consumer Expenditure Surveys are used to gather information on expenditures, income, and other related subjects. These data are used to periodically update the national Consumer Price Index. In addition the data are used by a variety of researchers in academia, government agencies, and the private sector. The data are collected from a national probability sample of households designed to represent the total civilian non-institutional population. In order to accommodate Large Scale Feasibility Online Diary test, several modifications will be made to production procedures and collection including the addition of two question relating to internet access, implementation of an online Diary, and the addition of debriefing questions. The study will obtain an expected 1,200 completed cases. The large sample size is needed in order to perform statistically significant analysis of any differences in data quality between the online diaries and production (paper) diaries prior to full production implementation. The study sample will be further divided into two groups, with one group receiving a $5 incentive. The CPI program is changing its source of outlet frame information from the Telephone Point of Purchase Survey (TPOPS) to the CEQ and CED surveys. As a result, the sample size for the CE surveys will increase. The BLS conducts the CE Surveys under the authority of Title 29, Section 2 of the United States Code. This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless the OMB, under the PRA, approves it and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under Control Number 1220-0050. The current approval is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2021; however, the DOL notes that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB will receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. New requirements would only take effect upon OMB approval. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on March 14, 2019 (84 FR 9383). Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1220-0050. The OMB 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; and 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 submission of responses. Agency: DOL-BLS. [[Page 34950]] Title of Collection: Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview and Diary. OMB Control Number: 1220-0050. Affected Public: Individuals or Households. Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,801. Total Estimated Number of Responses: 59,536. Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 52,337 hours. Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0. Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D). Dated: July 12, 2019. Frederick Licari, Departmental Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2019-15363 Filed 7-18-19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-24-P