[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53452-53453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16926]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau

[Docket Number 230728-0178]
RIN 0607-XC070


Annual Integrated Economic Survey

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of determination.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of the Census (Census 
Bureau) is conducting the Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES). We 
have determined that data to be collected in this survey are needed to 
aid the efficient performance of essential governmental functions and 
have significant application to the needs of businesses, organizations, 
and the public. The AIES will provide the only comprehensive national 
and subnational data on business revenues, expenses, and assets on an 
annual basis. The data derived from this survey 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, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-0101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Orsini, Associate Director for 
Economic Programs, Telephone: 301-763-1858; Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In an effort to improve measurements of the 
economy in the United States, the Census Bureau will conduct the Annual 
Integrated Economic Survey (AIES). The AIES is a new survey designed to 
combine several existing Census Bureau annual survey collections to 
reduce respondent burden and simultaneously increase data quality and 
operational efficiencies. The AIES integrates and replaces the 
following existing annual collections: the Annual Retail Trade Survey 
(ARTS) (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 0607-
0013), the Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) (OMB control number 
0607-0195), the Service Annual Survey (SAS) (OMB control number 0607-
0422), the Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) (OMB control number 
0607-0449), the Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES) (OMB control 
number 0607-0782), the Manufacturer's Unfilled Orders Survey (M3UFO) 
(OMB control number 0607-0561), and the Report of Organization (OMB 
control number 0607-0444).
    The Census Bureau plans to conduct the AIES on an annual basis, 
beginning with a preparatory 2022 AIES dress rehearsal (collected in 
calendar year 2023) and the full-scale AIES implementation beginning in 
survey year 2023 (collected in calendar year 2024). The 2022 AIES dress 
rehearsal will be a small-scale collection that will mimic the 
collection instrument and procedures planned for the full-scale 2023 
AIES. The 2022 AIES dress rehearsal will allow the Census Bureau to 
examine patterns of response and to determine what additional support 
respondents will need in future collections. To minimize the burden 
imposed on companies already in one or more of the seven annual surveys 
that the AIES will replace, responses submitted for the 2022 AIES dress 
rehearsal will fulfill survey year 2022 reporting requirements for the

[[Page 53453]]

integrated surveys. The 2022 AIES dress rehearsal and subsequent full-
scale AIES collections are authorized by title 13 U.S.C. 131, 182, and 
193. Response to the dress rehearsal and the AIES is mandatory per 
sections 224 and 225 of title 13 U.S.C. All information collected will 
be kept confidential, consistent with the provisions of title 13 U.S.C. 
9.
    The AIES covers all domestic, private, non-farm employer businesses 
headquartered in the U.S. as defined by the 2017 North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS). Exclusions are most foreign 
operations of U.S. businesses and most government operations (including 
the U.S. Postal Service), agricultural production companies, and 
private households. The AIES sample is selected from a frame of 
approximately 5.4 million companies constructed from the Business 
Register (BR), which is the Census Bureau's master business list. The 
2022 AIES dress rehearsal will sample approximately 8,500 employer 
businesses and the full-scale AIES will sample approximately 385,000 
employer businesses. Of the 385,000 employer businesses, the Census 
Bureau will select approximately 36,500 companies with 100% 
probability, based on the complexity of their operations. The remaining 
companies in the frame will be stratified within sector by geographic 
category within 3-digit industry NAICS classification. This is an 
unequal probability sample, with company inclusion probabilities 
accounting for contribution(s) to both national and subnational 
estimates of annual payroll.
    The AIES estimates will include data on employment; revenue 
including sales; shipments; receipts; revenue by class of customer; 
sources of revenue; taxes, contributions; gifts and grants; products; 
e-commerce activity; operating expenses including purchased services; 
payroll; benefits; rental payments; utilities; interest; resales; 
equipment; materials and supplies; research and development; other 
detailed operating expenses; and assets which includes capital 
expenditures; inventories; depreciable assets; and robotics.
    The AIES will provide continuous and timely national and 
subnational statistical data on the economy. Government program 
officials, industry organization leaders, economic and social analysts, 
business entrepreneurs, and domestic and foreign researchers in 
academia, business, and government will use statistics from AIES. More 
details on expected uses of the statistics from the AIES are found in 
the 30-Day Notice for the AIES (88 FR 19906; April 4, 2023).
    Public Comments: The Census Bureau published a Notice of 
Consideration in the Federal Register on November 4, 2022 (87 FR 66643) 
giving notice that it was considering a proposal to conduct the AIES. 
No comments were received in response to that notice. The Census Bureau 
subsequently published a Notice in the Federal Register on April 4, 
2023 (88 FR 19906), which invited comment on the information collection 
request associated with the AIES. Census received one comment on that 
latter notice. The commenter agreed that the AIES should reduce 
respondent burden, increase data quality, and allow greater operational 
efficiencies. In addition, the commenter supported situations where the 
AIES may include new questions each year on policy-relevant topics such 
as technological advances, management and business practices, exporting 
practices, and globalization. The commenter also requested that Census 
be required to carry out additional research to ensure a reduction in 
NAICS code misclassification among survey respondents.
    Census Bureau Response to the Public Comment: The Census Bureau 
supports conducting additional research and identifying opportunities 
to reduce NAICS misclassification. However, this effort is outside the 
scope of this action, research should be conducted on a larger-scale 
and not confined to the AIES. NAICS classification for companies 
selected in the AIES is driven by the Economic Census and the Census 
Bureau's BR. The Census Bureau is participating in discussions that are 
underway regarding a Federal statistical agency ``data 
synchronization'' effort across multiple agencies. The Census Bureau 
agrees to provide a research plan to address NAICS misclassification 
issues within one year of ICR approval.
    OMB Terms of Clearance: OMB approved the 2022 AIES dress rehearsal 
portion of the Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES), including all 
relevant testing aspects. Prior to conducting the full-scale AIES, the 
Census Bureau will consult with OMB to determine next steps for 
clearing the full-scale AIES. In addition, in light of the Census 
Bureau's finding in Supporting Statement Part B ``that NAICS 
classifications can be unnatural or challenging for some businesses,'' 
the Census Bureau within 1 year of this clearance shall provide OMB a 
research plan (and relevant research updates) to address such NAICS 
classification issues. This research plan will include ways the Census 
Bureau plans to estimate the percentage of respondents across 
collections that select an incorrect NAICS code; how the Census Bureau 
plans to estimate the extent and source of differences in NAICS code 
assignments by the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 
the same establishments; and possible approaches the Census Bureau 
could take to reduce NAICS misclassification.

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 AIES under the OMB control number 0607-1024.
    Based upon the foregoing, I have directed that the Annual 
Integrated Economic Survey be conducted for the purpose of collecting 
these data.
    Robert L. Santos, Director, Census Bureau, approved the publication 
of this Notice in the Federal Register.

    Dated: August 3, 2023.
Shannon Wink,
Program Analyst, Policy Coordination Office, U.S. Census Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2023-16926 Filed 8-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P