81 FR 86016 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview and Diary

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 229 (November 29, 2016)

Page Range		86016-86017
FR Document		2016-28735

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview and Diary,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86016-86017]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28735]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly 
Interview and Diary

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) 
revision titled, ``Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview 
and Diary,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before December 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201607-1220-002 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-
BLS, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance 
Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an 
email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks approval under the PRA for 
revisions to the Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview and 
Diary. The BLS uses the Consumer Expenditure Surveys to gather 
information on expenditures, income, and other related subjects. The 
data is updated periodically in the national Consumer Price Index. In 
addition, the data is used by a variety of researchers in academia, 
government agencies, and the private sector. The data is collected from 
a national probability sample of households designed to represent the 
total civilian non-institutional population. The purpose of this 
revision request is to make changes to the two Consumer Expenditure 
(CE) Surveys: The Quarterly Interview Survey (CEQ) and the Diary Survey 
(CED) as part of an ongoing effort to improve data quality, maintain or 
increase response rates, and reduce data collection costs. The Census 
Authorizing Statute and BLS Authorizing Statute authorize this 
information collection. See 13 U.S.C. 8b and 29 U.S.C. 2.
    The ICR has been characterized as a revision for several reasons. 
More specifically, three major changes are proposed for the CED. (1) In 
an effort to alleviate burden and improve response rates, an 
alternative version of the paper CED has been developed. The new 
version consolidates the four main diary categories into two, facing, 
diary pages so that all expenses for a single day can be entered 
without flipping pages. An effort was also made to reduce the amount of 
instructions and examples so that respondents are not confused or 
intimidated. (2) The earliest placement date and last placement date 
restrictions for the Diary will be removed allowing Field 
Representatives to place the diary on any day within the collection 
month. (3) In order to simplify procedures and reduce costs, all 
Diaries will be double placed. As a result, the second Field 
Representative interview to pick up the Week 1 Diary and place the Week 
2 Diary will be eliminated. Additionally, the CE will delete several 
tax questions that were deleted from CEQ in 2015 as data received from 
the IRS have enabled CE to calculate this data rather than collect it. 
Several changes will also be implemented in CEQ in order to keep the 
CEQ questionnaire current. These changes include changes to question 
wording, deletions, additions, and section restructurings.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that 
does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection 
under Control Number 1220-0050. The current approval is scheduled to 
expire on June 30, 2019; however, the DOL notes that existing 
information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a 
month-to-month extension while they undergo review. New requirements 
would only take effect upon OMB approval. For additional substantive 
information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the 
Federal Register on June 30, 2016 (81 FR 42731).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal

[[Page 86017]]

Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments 
should mention OMB Control Number 1220-0050.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-BLS.
    Title of Collection: Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly 
Interview and Diary.
    OMB Control Number: 1220-0050.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,927.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 57,732.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 56,718 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: November 22, 2016.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-28735 Filed 11-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-27-P

86016 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 29, 2016 / Notices

• Enhance the quality, utility, and respondents, proposed frequency of specifically, three major changes are
clarity of the information to be response, and estimated total burden proposed for the CED. (1) In an effort to
collected; and may be obtained free of charge from the alleviate burden and improve response
• Minimize the burden of the RegInfo.gov Web site at http:// rates, an alternative version of the paper
collection of information on those who www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ CED has been developed. The new
are to respond, including through the PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201607-1220-002 version consolidates the four main diary
use of appropriate automated, (this link will only become active on the categories into two, facing, diary pages
electronic, mechanical, or other day following publication of this notice) so that all expenses for a single day can
technological collection techniques or or by contacting Michel Smyth by be entered without flipping pages. An
other forms of information technology, telephone at 202–693–4129, TTY 202– effort was also made to reduce the
e.g., permitting electronic submission of 693–8064, (these are not toll-free amount of instructions and examples so
responses. numbers) or sending an email to DOL_ that respondents are not confused or
Agency: DOL–ETA. PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov. intimidated. (2) The earliest placement
Type of Review: Extension without Submit comments about this request date and last placement date restrictions
change. by mail or courier to the Office of for the Diary will be removed allowing
Title of Collection: Job Corps Information and Regulatory Affairs, Field Representatives to place the diary
Application Data. Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL–BLS, on any day within the collection month.
Form(s): ETA Form 652, ETA Form Office of Management and Budget, (3) In order to simplify procedures and
655, ETA Form 682. Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., reduce costs, all Diaries will be double
OMB Control Number: 1205–0025. Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202– placed. As a result, the second Field
Affected Public: Individuals and 395–5806 (this is not a toll-free Representative interview to pick up the
Households. number); or by email: OIRA_ Week 1 Diary and place the Week 2
Estimated Number of Respondents: submission@omb.eop.gov. Commenters Diary will be eliminated. Additionally,
69,700. are encouraged, but not required, to the CE will delete several tax questions
Frequency: Once. send a courtesy copy of any comments that were deleted from CEQ in 2015 as
Total Estimated Annual Responses: data received from the IRS have enabled
by mail or courier to the U.S.
145,961. CE to calculate this data rather than
Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of
Estimated Average Time per collect it. Several changes will also be
the Chief Information Officer, Attn:
Response: Varies. implemented in CEQ in order to keep
Estimated Total Annual Burden Departmental Information Compliance
Management Program, Room N1301, the CEQ questionnaire current. These
Hours: 13,106. changes include changes to question
Total Estimated Annual Other Cost 200 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: wording, deletions, additions, and
Burden: 0. section restructurings.
DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
Portia Wu, This information collection is subject
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Assistant Secretary for Employment and to the PRA. A Federal agency generally
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202–693–
Training, Labor. cannot conduct or sponsor a collection
4129, TTY 202–693–8064, (these are not
[FR Doc. 2016–28705 Filed 11–28–16; 8:45 am]
of information, and the public is
toll-free numbers) or sending an email
generally not required to respond to an
BILLING CODE 4510–FT–P to DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov. information collection, unless it is
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR approved by the OMB under the PRA
seeks approval under the PRA for and displays a currently valid OMB
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR revisions to the Consumer Expenditure Control Number. In addition,
Office of the Secretary Surveys: Quarterly Interview and Diary. notwithstanding any other provisions of
The BLS uses the Consumer law, no person shall generally be subject
Agency Information Collection Expenditure Surveys to gather to penalty for failing to comply with a
Activities; Submission for OMB information on expenditures, income, collection of information that does not
Review; Comment Request; Consumer and other related subjects. The data is display a valid Control Number. See 5
Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly updated periodically in the national CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL
Interview and Diary Consumer Price Index. In addition, the obtains OMB approval for this
data is used by a variety of researchers information collection under Control
ACTION: Notice. in academia, government agencies, and Number 1220–0050. The current
the private sector. The data is collected approval is scheduled to expire on June
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor from a national probability sample of 30, 2019; however, the DOL notes that
(DOL) is submitting the Bureau of Labor households designed to represent the existing information collection
Statistics (BLS) sponsored information total civilian non-institutional requirements submitted to the OMB
collection request (ICR) revision titled, population. The purpose of this revision receive a month-to-month extension
‘‘Consumer Expenditure Surveys: request is to make changes to the two while they undergo review. New
Quarterly Interview and Diary,’’ to the Consumer Expenditure (CE) Surveys: requirements would only take effect
Office of Management and Budget The Quarterly Interview Survey (CEQ) upon OMB approval. For additional
(OMB) for review and approval for use and the Diary Survey (CED) as part of an substantive information about this ICR,
in accordance with the Paperwork ongoing effort to improve data quality,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

see the related notice published in the
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public maintain or increase response rates, and Federal Register on June 30, 2016 (81
comments on the ICR are invited. reduce data collection costs. The Census FR 42731).
DATES: The OMB will consider all Authorizing Statute and BLS Interested parties are encouraged to
written comments that agency receives Authorizing Statute authorize this send comments to the OMB, Office of
on or before December 29, 2016. information collection. See 13 U.S.C. 8b Information and Regulatory Affairs at
ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with and 29 U.S.C. 2. the address shown in the ADDRESSES
applicable supporting documentation; The ICR has been characterized as a section within thirty (30) days of
including a description of the likely revision for several reasons. More publication of this notice in the Federal

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Document Created: 2016-11-29 00:33:20
Document Modified: 2016-11-29 00:33:20

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
Action		Notice.
Dates		The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before December 29, 2016.
Contact		Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693- 4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 86016

81 FR 86016 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview and Diary

DEPARTMENT OF LABOROffice of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 229 (November 29, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary