82 FR 22097 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 91 (May 12, 2017)

Page Range		22097-22099
FR Document		2017-09685
Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 91 (Friday, May 12, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 91 (Friday, May 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22097-22099]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09685]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


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: Monthly Retail Surveys (Formerly Monthly Retail Trade Survey 
(MRTS) and Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MARTS)).
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0717.
    Form Number(s): MRTS: SM-44(17) S, SM-44(17) SE, SM-44(17) SS, SM-
44(17) B, SM-44(17) BE, SM-44(17) BS, SM-45(12) S, SM-45(12) SE, SM-
45(12) SS, SM-45(12) B, SM-45(12) BE, SM-45(12) BS, SM-72(17) S, and 
SM-20(17) I. MARTS: SM-44(17) A, SM-44(17) AE, SM-44(17) AS, and SM-
72(17) A.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Number of Respondents: 12,000.
    Average Hours per Response: 7 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 16,799.
    Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau plans to request a revision of 
the current Office of Management and Budget clearance for the surveys 
known as the Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) and the Advance Monthly 
Retail Trade Survey (MARTS). The MRTS and MARTS are related collections 
sharing the same initial sampling frame and jointly collect data that 
are published in conjunction with each other. These two surveys, 
currently cleared separately under control numbers 0607-0717 and 0607-
0104, respectively, will therefore be combined under one control number 
and will be collectively called the Monthly Retail Surveys (MRS).
    The MRS are 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).
    The MRTS provides estimates of monthly retail sales, end-of-month 
merchandise inventories, and quarterly e-commerce sales of retailers in 
the United States. In addition, the survey also provides an estimate of 
monthly sales at food service establishments and drinking places.
    Sales, inventories, and e-commerce data provide a current 
statistical picture of the retail portion of consumer activity. The 
sales and inventories

[[Page 22098]]

estimates in the MRTS measure current trends of economic activity that 
occur in the United States. The survey estimates provide valuable 
information for economic policy decisions and actions by the government 
and are widely used by private businesses, trade organizations, 
professional associations, and others for market research and analysis. 
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) uses these data in determining 
the consumption portion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
    The MARTS, a subsample of MRTS, 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.
    Retail and Food Services Sales during 2016 were estimated at $5.5 
trillion. The estimates produced in the MRS are critical to the 
accurate measurement of total economic activity. The estimates of 
retail sales represent all operating receipts, including receipts from 
wholesale sales made at retail locations and services rendered as part 
of the sale of the goods, by businesses that primarily sell at retail. 
The sales estimates include sales made on credit as well as on a cash 
basis, but exclude receipts from sales taxes and interest charges from 
credit sales. Also excluded is non-operating income from such services 
as investments and real estate.
    The estimates of merchandise inventories owned by retailers 
represent all merchandise located in retail stores, warehouses, 
offices, or in transit for distribution to retail establishments. The 
estimates of merchandise inventories exclude fixtures and supplies not 
held for sale, as well as merchandise held on consignment owned by 
others. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) use inventories data to 
determine the investment portion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 
We publish retail sales and inventories estimates based on the NAICS.
    Retail e-commerce sales are estimated from the same sample used to 
estimate preliminary and final U.S. retail sales. For coverage of the 
universe of e-commerce retailers, research was conducted to ensure that 
retail firms selected in the MRTS sample engaged in e-commerce. Total 
e-commerce sales for 2016 were estimated at $395 billion.
    Sales data for select industries are released in the press release 
``Advance Monthly Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services,'' 
approximately 10 business days after the close of the reference month, 
which also includes more detailed estimates for the prior month. 
Advance inventory estimates for 3 aggregate levels are released in the 
``Advance Economic Indicator Report'' approximately 19 business days 
after the close of the reference month and the preliminary estimates 
for inventories data are released in the ``Manufacturing and Trade 
Inventories and Sales'' approximately 43 days after the reference 
month. E-commerce sales estimates are released quarterly as part of the 
``Quarterly Retail Ecommerce Sales'' report, approximately 45 days 
following the reference period.
    Each MRS form has two versions; one with an ``E'' suffix and one 
with an ``A'' Suffix. The forms are identical, except that those with 
the ``E'' suffix are sent to smaller firms (which we refer to 
internally as ``EINs''), while those with the ``A'' suffix are sent to 
larger firms, which we refer to internally as ``alphas''. Thus, there 
are a total of 36 variants of forms along with their fax counterparts. 
Forms can be found at https://www.census.gov/retail/get_forms.html.
    Please note that with the start of mailing for our next business 
sample revision for the December 2017 statistical period, we will be 
removing the leased department forms: SM-45(17) S, SM-45(17) SE, SM-
45(17) SS, SM-45(17) B, SM-45(17) BE, and SM-45(17) BS.
    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.
    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 is the primary Federal user of data collected in the Monthly 
Retail Surveys. BEA uses the information in its preparation of the 
National Income and Products Accounts (NIPA), and its benchmark and 
annual input-output tables. Data on retail sales are used to prepare 
monthly estimates of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) 
component of gross domestic product for all PCE goods categories, 
except tobacco, prescription drugs, motor vehicles, and gasoline and 
other motor fuel. These estimates are also published each month in the 
Personal Income and Outlays press release. If the survey were not 
conducted, BEA would lack comprehensive data from the retail sector. 
This would adversely affect the reliability of the NIPA and GDP. 
Production of the NIPA figures also require inventory figures in order 
to publish the monthly inventory to sales ratios. Additionally, they 
use MRS inventory figures to measure changes in inventories for 
estimates of gross output in the annual Input-Output Accounts tables, 
as well as for computing annual and quarterly GDP-by-industry 
statistics.
    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses the data as input to 
their Producer Price Indexes and in developing productivity 
measurements. The data are also used for gauging current economic 
trends of the economy. BLS uses the estimates to develop consumer price 
indexes used in inflation and cost of living calculations.
    CEA, 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''. 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.
    Policymakers such as the FRB need to have the timeliest estimates 
in order to anticipate economic trends and act accordingly.
    Private businesses use the retail sales and inventories data to 
compute business activity indexes. The private sector also uses retail 
sales as a reliable indicator of consumer activity. 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 U.S.C., 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

[[Page 22099]]

notice to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

Sheleen Dumas,
PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-09685 Filed 5-11-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
22097

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 91

Friday, May 12, 2017

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER line connections to the toll-free Budget (OMB) for clearance the
contains documents other than rules or telephone number. Persons with hearing following proposal for collection of
proposed rules that are applicable to the impairments may also follow the information under the provisions of the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, proceedings by first calling the Federal Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
committee meetings, agency decisions and Relay Service at 1–800–977–8339 and chapter 35).
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
providing the Service with the Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
statements of organization and functions are conference call number and conference Title: Monthly Retail Surveys
examples of documents appearing in this ID number. (Formerly Monthly Retail Trade Survey
section. Members of the public are also (MRTS) and Advance Monthly Retail
entitled to submit written comments; Trade Survey (MARTS)).
the comments must be received in the OMB Control Number: 0607–0717.
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS regional office within 30 days following Form Number(s): MRTS: SM–44(17)
the meeting. Written comments may be S, SM–44(17) SE, SM–44(17) SS, SM–
Notice of Public Meeting of the mailed to the Midwestern Regional 44(17) B, SM–44(17) BE, SM–44(17) BS,
Nebraska Advisory Committee To Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, SM–45(12) S, SM–45(12) SE, SM–45(12)
Discuss Civil Rights Topics in the 55 W. Monroe St., Suite 410, Chicago, SS, SM–45(12) B, SM–45(12) BE, SM–
State IL 60615. They may also be faxed to the 45(12) BS, SM–72(17) S, and SM–20(17)
AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil Commission at (312) 353–8324, or I. MARTS: SM–44(17) A, SM–44(17) AE,
Rights. emailed to Carolyn Allen at callen@ SM–44(17) AS, and SM–72(17) A.
usccr.gov. Persons who desire Type of Request: Revision of a
ACTION: Announcement of meeting.
additional information may contact the currently approved collection.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, Midwestern Regional Office at (312) Number of Respondents: 12,000.
pursuant to the provisions of the rules 353–8311. Average Hours per Response: 7
and regulations of the U.S. Commission Records generated from this meeting minutes.
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the may be inspected and reproduced at the Burden Hours: 16,799.
Federal Advisory Committee Act that Midwestern Regional Office, as they Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau
the Nebraska Advisory Committee become available, both before and after plans to request a revision of the current
(Committee) will hold a meeting on the meeting. Records of the meeting will Office of Management and Budget
Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. be available via www.facadatabase.gov clearance for the surveys known as the
CDT for the purpose of Committee under the Commission on Civil Rights, Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS)
orientation and a discussion on civil Nebraska Advisory Committee link and the Advance Monthly Retail Trade
rights topics affecting the state. (https://database.faca.gov/committee/ Survey (MARTS). The MRTS and
DATES: The meeting will be held on committee.aspx?cid=260&aid=17). MARTS are related collections sharing
Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. Persons interested in the work of this the same initial sampling frame and
CDT. Committee are directed to the jointly collect data that are published in
Public Call Information: Dial: 888– Commission’s Web site, http:// conjunction with each other. These two
452–4023, Conference ID: 5195407. www.usccr.gov, or may contact the surveys, currently cleared separately
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Midwestern Regional Office at the above under control numbers 0607–0717 and
David Barreras, DFO, at dbarreras@ email or street address. 0607–0104, respectively, will therefore
usccr.gov or 312–353–8311. Agenda be combined under one control number
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members and will be collectively called the
Welcome and Roll Call Monthly Retail Surveys (MRS).
of the public can listen to the Orientation
discussion. This meeting is available to The MRS are administered monthly to
Civil Rights Topics in Nebraska
the public through the following toll- Next Steps a sample of employer firms (i.e.,
free call-in number: 888–452–4023, Public Comment businesses with paid employees) with
conference ID: 5195407. Any interested Adjournment establishments located in the United
member of the public may call this States and classified in retail trade and/
Dated: May 9, 2017.
number and listen to the meeting. An or food services sectors as defined by
David Mussatt,
open comment period will be provided the North American Industry
to allow members of the public to make Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. Classification System (NAICS).
a statement as time allows. The [FR Doc. 2017–09666 Filed 5–11–17; 8:45 am] The MRTS provides estimates of
conference call operator will ask callers BILLING CODE 6335–01–P monthly retail sales, end-of-month
to identify themselves, the organization merchandise inventories, and quarterly
they are affiliated with (if any), and an e-commerce sales of retailers in the
email address prior to placing callers DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States. In addition, the survey
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

into the conference room. Callers can also provides an estimate of monthly
expect to incur regular charges for calls Census Bureau sales at food service establishments and
they initiate over wireless lines, drinking places.
Submission for OMB Review;
according to their wireless plan. The Sales, inventories, and e-commerce
Comment Request
Commission will not refund any data provide a current statistical picture
incurred charges. Callers will incur no The Department of Commerce will of the retail portion of consumer
charge for calls they initiate over land- submit to the Office of Management and activity. The sales and inventories

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 91 / Friday, May 12, 2017 / Notices 22099

notice to OIRA_Submission@ noaa.gov. Pre-registration is required to DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. access the webinar and to make public
comments. Additional information on National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Sheleen Dumas, Administration
the webinar is available from
PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief
Information Officer. Lynne.Mersfelder@noaa.gov or online at: RIN 0648–XF341
[FR Doc. 2017–09685 Filed 5–11–17; 8:45 am]
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/
ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm. Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
The Hydrographic Services Review Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental To Conducting
Panel (HSRP) is a Federal Advisory
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Subsea Cable Operations and
Committee established to advise the
Maintenance Activities in the Arctic
Under Secretary of Commerce for
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ocean
Oceans and Atmosphere, the NOAA
Administration Administrator, on matters related to the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Hydrographic Services Review Panel responsibilities and authorities set forth Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Meeting in section 303 of the Hydrographic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Services Improvement Act of 1998, as Commerce.
AGENCY: National Ocean Service, amended, and such other appropriate ACTION: Proposed incidental harassment
National Oceanic and Atmospheric matters that the Under Secretary refers authorization; request for comments.
Administration (NOAA), Department of to the Panel for review and advice. The
Commerce. charter and other information are SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request
ACTION: Notice of open public meeting located online at: http://www.nautical from Quintillion Subsea Operations,
via webinar. LLC (Quintillion) for authorization to
charts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/CharterBylaws
take marine mammals incidental to
HSIAStatute.htm. Past HSRP public
SUMMARY: The Hydrographic Services conducting subsea cable-laying and
Review Panel (HSRP) will hold a public meeting summary reports, maintenance activities in the Beaufort,
meeting to discuss the draft National presentations, transcripts, and other Bering, and Chukchi seas. Pursuant to
Charting Plan and other related topics information is available online at: the Marine Mammal Protection Act
on navigation services such as: The draft https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments
External Source of Data for Nautical ocs/hsrp/meetings.htm. on its proposal to issue an incidental
Charting; the draft OCS Autonomous Matters To Be Considered: The panel harassment authorization (IHA) to
Systems Strategy; and the draft Coast is convening to discuss four draft incidentally take marine mammals
Survey Hydrographic Plan. Public documents relevant to NOAA’s during the specified activities.
comments are requested. The HSRP navigation services. Navigation services DATES: Comments and information must
meeting agenda, webinar and include the data, products, and services be received no later than June 12, 2017.
background documents can be found provided by the NOAA programs and ADDRESSES: Comments should be
online at: https://www.nauticalcharts. activities that undertake geodetic addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief,
noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm. observations, gravity modeling, coastal Permits and Conservation Division,
DATES: The meeting webinar is mapping, bathymetric mapping, Office of Protected Resources, National
scheduled for June 9, 2017, 1–4 p.m. hydrographic surveying, nautical Marine Fisheries Service. Physical
Eastern Time. The agenda and times are charting, tide and water level comments should be sent to 1315 East-
subject to change. For updates, please observations, current observations, and West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
check online at: https://www.nautical marine modeling. This suite of NOAA and electronic comments should be sent
charts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm. products and services support safe and to ITP.Guan@noaa.gov.
Webinar Information: This can be efficient navigation, resilient coasts and Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
found online at: https://www.nautical for comments sent by any other method,
communities, and the nationwide
charts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm. to any other address or individual, or
positioning information infrastructure to
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
support America’s commerce. Other received after the end of the comment
Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis, HSRP program matters may be considered. The agenda period. Comments received
manager, National Ocean Service, Office electronically, including all
is subject to change.
of Coast Survey, NOAA (N/NSD), 1315 attachments, must not exceed a 25-
East-West Highway, SSMC3 #6862, Special Accommodations: This megabyte file size. Attachments to
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910; meeting is accessible to people with electronic comments will be accepted in
telephone: 301–713–2750 ext. 166; disabilities. Please direct requests to Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF
email: Lynne.Mersfelder@noaa.gov. Lynne.Mersfelder@noaa.gov by June 2, file formats only. All comments
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The HSRP 2017. received are a part of the public record
public meeting will be conducted via Dated: May 3, 2017. and will generally be posted online at
webinar and public comment is www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
Shepard Smith,
encouraged. A public comment period incidental/research.htm without
Director, Office of Coast Survey, National change. All personal identifying
is scheduled during the webinar and Ocean Service, National Oceanic and
will be noted in the agenda. Each information (e.g., name, address)
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

Atmospheric Administration.
individual or group making verbal voluntarily submitted by the commenter
[FR Doc. 2017–09642 Filed 5–11–17; 8:45 am]
comments will be limited to a total time may be publicly accessible. Do not
of five (5) minutes and will be recorded. BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P submit confidential business
Individuals who would like to submit information or otherwise sensitive or
written statements in advance, during or protected information.
after the meeting should email their FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
comments to Lynne.Mersfelder@ Shane Guan, Office of Protected

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Document Created: 2017-05-12 01:09:12
Document Modified: 2017-05-12 01:09:12
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		82 FR 22097
82 FR 22097 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCECensus Bureau

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 91 (May 12, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
