80 FR 48491 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 156 (August 13, 2015)

Page Range		48491-48492
FR Document		2015-19911
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 156 (Thursday, August 13, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48491-48492]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19911]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit 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: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MARTS).
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0104.
    Form Number(s): SM-4412A, SM-4412AE, SM-4412AS, and SM-7212A.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Number of Respondents: 4,900.
    Average Hours per Response: 5 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 4,900.
    Needs and Uses: The Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MARTS) is 
administered monthly to a sample of employer firms (i.e., businesses 
with paid employees) with establishments located in the United States 
and classified in retail trade and/or food services sectors as defined 
by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). MARTS 
began in 1953 as a monthly survey for activity taking place during the 
previous month. MARTS was developed in response to requests by 
government, business, and other users to provide an early indication of 
current retail trade activity in the United States. Retail sales are 
one of the primary measures of consumer demand for both durable and 
non-durable goods. MARTS also provides an estimate of monthly sales at 
food service establishments and drinking places.
    The results from MARTS provide the earliest possible look at 
consumer spending. Without MARTS, the Census Bureau's earliest measure 
of retail sales is the ``preliminary'' estimate from the full monthly 
sample, Month Retail Trade Survey (MRTS), released approximately 6 
weeks after the end of the reference month. Advance estimates are 
released approximately 9 working days after the reference month.
    This survey uses a multi-mode data collection process that includes 
Internet reporting (Centurion), fax, telephone, and mail. The survey 
requests sales and e-commerce sales for the month just ending. If 
reporting data for a period other than the calendar month, the survey 
asks for the period's length (4 or 5 weeks) and the date on which the 
period ended. The survey also asks for the number of establishments 
covered by the data provided and whether or not the sales data provided 
are estimates or more accurate ``book'' figures.
    The survey results are published on the Census Bureau's Web site, 
http://www.census.gov/retail.
    The U.S. Census Bureau tabulates the collected data to provide, 
with measured reliability, statistics on United States retail sales. 
These estimates are especially valued by data users because of their 
timeliness. There would be approximately a 6 week delay in the 
availability of these statistics if this survey were not conducted.
    The sales estimates are used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis 
(BEA), Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), Federal Reserve Board (FRB), 
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and other government agencies, as 
well as business users in formulating economic decisions.
    BEA uses the survey results as critical inputs to the calculation 
of the personal consumption expenditures component (PCE) of Gross 
Domestic Product (GDP). Specifically, BEA Chief Statistician states 
``this important survey is our main data source for key components of 
BEA's economic statistics. Data on retail sales are used to prepare 
monthly estimates of personal consumption expenditures component of 
gross domestic product for all PCE goods categories, except tobacco, 
prescription drugs, motor vehicles, and gasoline end oil. These 
estimates are also published each month in the Personal Income and 
Outlays press release''. In first quarter 2015, PCE comprised 68 
percent of total

[[Page 48492]]

GDP. PCE Goods (retail) was 32 percent of the PCE estimate.
    CEA and other government agencies and businesses use the survey 
results to formulate and make decisions. CEA reports the retail data, 
one of the principal federal economic indicators, to the President each 
month for awareness on the current picture on the ``state of the 
economy'' and presents the data in one of the tables in Economic 
Indicators, a monthly publication prepared for Congress and the public. 
In addition, CEA's Macroeconomic Forecaster uses the retail sales data, 
one of the key monthly data releases each month, to keep track of real 
economic growth in the current quarter. According to CEA, spending 
components in the retail sales report constitute about 25 percent of 
the GDP, well in excess of any other indicator.
    Policymakers such as the FRB need to have the timeliest estimates 
in order to anticipate economic trends and act accordingly. BLS uses 
the estimates to develop consumer price indexes used in inflation and 
cost of living calculations. In addition, businesses use the estimates 
to measure how they are performing and predict future demand for their 
products.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, sections 131 and 
182.
    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce 
collections currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395-5806.

    Dated: August 10, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-19911 Filed 8-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
48492 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 156 / Thursday, August 13, 2015 / Notices

GDP. PCE Goods (retail) was 32 percent Agency: International Trade textile or apparel industry, subject to
of the PCE estimate. Administration. section 322(b) of the Act.
CEA and other government agencies Title: Procedures for Considering Affected Public: Individuals or
and businesses use the survey results to Requests and Comments from the Public households; business or other for-profit
formulate and make decisions. CEA for Textile and Apparel Safeguard organizations.
reports the retail data, one of the Actions on Imports from Colombia. Frequency: On occasion.
principal federal economic indicators, Form Number(s): None. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
to the President each month for OMB Control Number: 0625–0271. This information collection request
awareness on the current picture on the Type of Request: Regular submission. may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
‘‘state of the economy’’ and presents the Burden Hours: 24. Follow the instructions to view the
data in one of the tables in Economic Number of Respondents: 6 (1 for Department of Commerce collections
Indicators, a monthly publication Request; 5 for Comments). currently under review by OMB.
prepared for Congress and the public. In Average Hours per Response: 4 hours Written comments and
addition, CEA’s Macroeconomic for a Request; and 4 hours for each recommendations for the proposed
Forecaster uses the retail sales data, one Comment. information collection should be sent
Average Annual Cost to Public: $960.
of the key monthly data releases each within 30 days of publication of this
Needs and Uses: Title III, Subtitle B,
month, to keep track of real economic notice to OIRA Submission@
Section 321 through Section 328 of the
growth in the current quarter. According omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806.
United States-Colombia Trade
to CEA, spending components in the Promotion Agreement Implementation Dated: August 10, 2015.
retail sales report constitute about 25 Act (the ‘‘Act’’) [Pub. L. 112–42] Glenna Mickelson,
percent of the GDP, well in excess of implements the textile and apparel Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
any other indicator. safeguard provisions, provided for in Information Officer.
Policymakers such as the FRB need to
Article 3.1 of the United States- [FR Doc. 2015–19899 Filed 8–12–15; 8:45 am]
have the timeliest estimates in order to
Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
anticipate economic trends and act
(the ‘‘Agreement’’). This safeguard
accordingly. BLS uses the estimates to
mechanism applies when, as a result of
develop consumer price indexes used in
the elimination of a customs duty under DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
inflation and cost of living calculations.
the Agreement, a Colombian textile or
In addition, businesses use the estimates Bureau of Economic Analysis
apparel article is being imported into
to measure how they are performing and
the United States in such increased
predict future demand for their Proposed Information Collection;
quantities, in absolute terms or relative
products. Comment Request; Services Surveys:
Affected Public: Business or other for- to the domestic market for that article,
and under such conditions as to cause BE–185, Quarterly Survey of Financial
profit. Services Transactions Between U.S.
Frequency: Monthly. serious damage or actual threat thereof
to a U.S. industry producing a like or Financial Services Providers and
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Foreign Persons
Legal Authority: Title 13, United directly competitive article. In these
States Code, sections 131 and 182. circumstances, Article 3.1 permits the AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis,
This information collection request United States to increase duties on the Department of Commerce.
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. imported article from Colombia to a ACTION: Notice.
Follow the instructions to view level that does not exceed the lesser of
Department of Commerce collections the prevailing U.S. normal trade SUMMARY: The Department of
currently under review by OMB. relations (NTR)/most-favored-nation Commerce, as part of its continuing
Written comments and (MFN) duty rate for the article or the effort to reduce paperwork and
recommendations for the proposed U.S. NTR/MFN duty rate in effect on the respondent burden, invites the general
information collection should be sent day before the Agreement entered into public and other Federal agencies to
within 30 days of publication of this force. comment on proposed and/or
notice to OIRA_Submission@ The Statement of Administrative continuing information collections, as
omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. Action accompanying the Act provides required by the Paperwork Reduction
Dated: August 10, 2015.
that the Committee for the Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 (44
Implementation of Textile Agreements U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
Glenna Mickelson,
(CITA) will issue procedures for DATES: Written comments must be
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief requesting such safeguard measures, for
Information Officer. submitted on or before October 13,
making its determinations under section 2015.
[FR Doc. 2015–19911 Filed 8–12–15; 8:45 am]
322(a) of the Act, and for providing
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P relief under section 322(b) of the Act. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
In Proclamation No. 8818 (77 FR to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
29519, May 18, 2012), the President Paperwork Clearance Officer,
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE delegated to CITA his authority under Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
Subtitle B of Title III of the Act with 14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Submission for OMB Review; Washington, DC 20230, or via email at
Comment Request respect to textile and apparel safeguard
measures. jjessup@doc.gov.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

The Department of Commerce will CITA must collect information in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
submit to the Office of Management and order to determine whether a domestic Requests for additional information or
Budget (OMB) for clearance the textile or apparel industry is being copies of the information collection
following proposal for collection of adversely impacted by imports of these instrument and instructions should be
information under the provisions of the products from Colombia, thereby directed to Christopher Stein, Chief,
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. allowing CITA to take corrective action Services Surveys Branch (SSB) BE–50,
Chapter 35). to protect the viability of the domestic Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:56 Aug 12, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13AUN1.SGM 13AUN1
Document Created: 2018-02-23 10:57:10
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 10:57:10
Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
FR Citation		80 FR 48491