[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 228 (Monday, November 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59859-59860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29962]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
1997 Business Expenditures Survey
ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activity; comment
request.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 24,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Sheldon Ziman, Bureau of the Census, AGFS, IMALL
300-19, Washington, DC (301)763-7596.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau plans to conduct the 1997 Business Expenditures
Survey (BES), previously known as the Assets and Expenditures Survey
(AES), as part of the 1997 Economic Censuses. This information
collection will supplement basic economic statistics produced by the
1997 Censuses of Wholesale Trade, Retail Trade, and Service Industries,
and is the sole source of detailed comprehensive statistics on business
operating expenses of domestic merchant wholesale, retail, and service
businesses. Data will be collected only from employer businesses
included in the business current sample surveys (BSR-97) database. This
information will be used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis to
benchmark national economic accounts such as the input-output account,
and to derive economic measures of value produced, such as value added.
Other government agencies, private industry, and academia also will use
these data for policy making, market and economic research, and
planning. Detailed inquiries on fixed assets and capital expenditures,
included in the 1992 survey, have been dropped.
II. Method of Collection
The Census Bureau will use mail out/ mail back survey forms to
collect the data. These forms will initially supplement those mailed to
respondents included in the Annual Surveys of Merchant Wholesale,
Retail Trade, and Service Industries. The latter surveys provide data
on sales, purchases, and inventories needed to supplement the operating
expenses data required for the computation of measures of value
produced. Since the main Economic Census due date of February 12 would
likely pose undue respondent burden for the types of inquiries to be
asked, the survey's due date will be March 12. Reasonable time
extensions will be offered to further reduce this burden. Reminder
letters and telephone calls will be directed to those not responding by
the extension or due date.
III. Data
OMB Number: [not available]
Form Numbers--9 forms will be used:
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1997 BES form Supplement to annual survey--
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B-451(S)........................... Wholesale alpha form B-451.
B-450(S)........................... Wholesale E.I. form B-450.
B-151(S)........................... Retail E.I. form B-151.
B-151A(S).......................... Retail E.I. form B-151A.
Retail E.I. form B-151D.
B-151D(S).......................... Retail alpha form B-153.
Retail alpha form B-153D.
B-153(S)
B-153D(S).......................... Service alpha (A) and E.I. (E)
reporting units covered in the B-
500 series).
B-500(S1)
B-500(S2)
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Note: Alpha reporting units cover all trade-specific locations
of companies with multiple Employer Identification (E.I.) numbers in
a particular trade. All other reporting units are covered under
trade-specific company E.I. numbers.
Type of Review: Regular Review.
Affected Public: Large and small businesses, other for-profit
organizations, and non-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 60,100 (all employers). This
reflects the addition of part of the real estate industry to the scope
of the survey, consistent with the Service Annual Survey.
Estimated Time Per Response: The average for all respondents is
1.07 hours. For alpha companies (generally large multiunits), the range
is .7 to 4.5 hours, averaging 1.7 hours. For E.I. companies (generally
smaller), the range is .3 to 3.8 hours, averaging 1.0 hours.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: The total annual burden for fiscal
year 1998 is 64,296 hours. The decrease from the 1992 survey reflects
the elimination of inquiries covering fixed assets and detailed capital
expenditures.
Estimated Total Cost: Included in the total cost of the 1997
Economic Census, estimated to be $218 million.
Respondents' Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 131, 193,
195, and 224.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have
[[Page 59860]]
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: November 18, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-29962 Filed 11-22-96; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
