82 FR 17630 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 69 (April 12, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 17630]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07289]


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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: Current Population Survey, Housing Vacancy Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0179.
    Form Number(s): There are no forms for data collection. We conduct 
all interviews on computers.
    Type of Request: Regular Submission.
    Number of Respondents: 84,000.
    Average Hours per Response: 3 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 4200.
    Needs and Uses: Collection of the HVS in conjunction with the 
Current Population Survey began in 1956, and serves a broad array of 
data users. We conduct the HVS interviews with landlords or other 
knowledgeable people concerning vacant housing units identified in the 
monthly CPS sample and meeting certain criteria. The HVS provides the 
only quarterly statistics on rental vacancy rates and homeownership 
rates for the United States, the four census regions, the 50 states and 
the District of Columbia, and the 75 largest metropolitan areas (MAs). 
Private and public sector organizations use these rates extensively to 
gauge and analyze the housing market with regard to supply, cost, and 
affordability at various points in time.
    In addition, the rental vacancy rate is a component of the index of 
leading economic indicators published by the Department of Commerce.
    Policy analysts, program managers, budget analysts, and 
congressional staff use these data to advise the executive and 
legislative branches of government with respect to the number and 
characteristics of units available for occupancy and the suitability of 
housing initiatives. Several other government agencies use these data 
on a continuing basis in calculating consumer expenditures for housing 
as a component of the gross national product; to project mortgage 
demands; and to measure the adequacy of the supply of rental and 
homeowner units. In addition, investment firms use the HVS data to 
analyze market trends and for economic forecasting.
    Affected Public: Individuals who have knowledge of the vacant 
sample unit (e.g., landlord, rental agents, neighbors).
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

    Legal Authority:  13 U.S.C. 182 and 29 U.S.C. 1-9.
    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 [email protected] or fax to (202)395-5806.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-07289 Filed 4-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P