96-15242. Submission For OMB Review; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 117 (Monday, June 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30591-30592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15242]



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


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: Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey.
    Form Number(s): B-310.
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0190.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 4,614 hours.
    Number of Respondents:3,298. 
    Avg Hours Per Response: 7 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The Bureau of the Census conducts the Monthly 
Wholesale Trade Survey to obtain sales and inventory data from a sample 
of merchant wholesalers. From the data we gather, we produce statistics 
on wholesale sales, end-of-month inventories, methods of inventory 
valuation, and stock/sales ratios. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses 
these statistics in its calculations of the gross domestic product 
(GDP) and to improve the reliability of inventory adjustments applied 
in the quarterly GDP estimates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses 
these statistics as input to its Producer Price Indexes and in 
developing productivity measurements. Other government agencies and 
businesses use these statistics for planning and development and to 
gauge the current trends of the economy. Current data on wholesale 
trade also enable us to make comparisons with the five-year wholesale 
census data. 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, 
Federal Government, State, local or tribal government.
    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.


[[Page 30592]]


    Dated: June 6, 1996.
Dan Haigler,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-15242 Filed 6-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-F