96-15241. Submission For OMB Review; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 117 (Monday, June 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 30591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15241]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission For OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: Bureau of the Census.
    Title: Current Retail Sales and Inventory Survey.
    Form Number(s): B-101(97), 102(97), 103(97), 111(97), 112(97), 
113(97), 114(97).
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0717.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 30,693 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 11,060.
    Avg Hours Per Response: 14 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The Current Retail Sales and Inventory Survey 
provides estimates of monthly sales and end-of-month merchandise 
inventories for retail stores in the United States by selected kinds of 
business. Sales and inventory data provide a current statistical 
picture of the retail portion of consumer activity. Monthly estimates 
of changes in sales and the value and levels of inventory are used by 
government and non-government analysts in gauging economic trends and 
formulating economic policy. The current sampling methodology for this 
survey uses both fixed and rotating panels. Larger companies report 
monthly in the fixed panel. Most small and medium sized companies 
report every three months and are asked to report data for the two most 
recent months. The current design is susceptible to large revisions in 
preliminary-to-final estimates due to imbalances in the rotating panels 
and differential response bias between current and previous month data. 
We will implement a totally fixed panel design for the next sample 
revision starting in early 1997 in order to minimize these revisions. 
The sample redesign will also permit more accurate identification of 
unusual responses and will facilitate reconciling differences with 
other Census Bureau surveys. We plan to gauge and monitor the effects 
of the sample redesign on an ongoing basis.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit institutions.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: Jerry Coffey, [phone].
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Dan Haigler, Acting DOC Forms Clearance Officer, 
[phone], Department of Commerce, room 5312, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Jerry Coffey, OMB Desk Officer, room 10201, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: June 6, 1996.
Dan Haigler,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-15241 Filed 6-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-F