82 FR 8823 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 19 (January 31, 2017)

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 8823]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02004]


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 19 / Tuesday, January 31, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 8823]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Monthly 
Wholesale Trade Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before April 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to William Abriatis, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 6K081, 
Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-3686 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey (MWTS) provides a continuous 
measure of monthly sales, end-of-month inventories, and inventories/
sales ratios in the United States by selected kinds of business for 
merchant wholesalers, excluding manufacturers' sales branches and 
offices. Estimates from the MWTS are released in three different 
reports each month. High level aggregate estimates for end-of-month 
inventories are first released as part of the Advance Economic 
Indicators Report approximately 27 days after the close of the 
reference month. The Advance Economic Indicators Report is a new report 
first released on July 28, 2016, and will be released monthly on an 
ongoing basis. The full Monthly Wholesale Trade Report containing both 
sales and inventories estimates is released approximately 40 days after 
the close of the reference month. Sales and inventories estimates from 
the MWTS are also released as part of the Manufacturing and Trade 
Inventories and Sales (MTIS) report issued approximately 43 days after 
the close of the reference month. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses 
this information to improve the inventory valuation adjustments applied 
to estimates of the Gross Domestic Product. The Bureau of Labor 
Statistics uses the data as input to develop Producer Price Indexes and 
productivity measurements.
    Estimates produced from the MWTS are based on a probability sample 
and are published on the North American Industry Classification System 
(NAICS) basis. The sample design consists of small, medium, and large 
cases requested to report sales and inventories each month. The sample, 
consisting of about 4,200 wholesale businesses, is drawn from the 
Business Register, which contains all Employer Identification Numbers 
(EINs) and listed establishment locations. The sample is updated 
quarterly to reflect employer business ``births'' and ``deaths''. New 
employer businesses identified in the Business and Professional 
Classification Survey are added and employer businesses determined to 
be no longer active are removed.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents are initially contacted by mailing them the MWTS form. 
Respondents have an option of reporting their data online, returning 
the paper form by fax or mail, or giving data by telephone. After 
initial contact, respondents have a choice to receive future 
correspondence by mailed form, faxed notice, or both. The faxed notice 
informs the respondent that the online system is open for reporting for 
the specified reference month.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0190.
    Form Number(s): SM4212-A and SM4212-E.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: U.S. merchant wholesale firms, excluding 
manufacturers' sales branches and offices.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 7 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,880 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 131 and 
182.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-02004 Filed 1-30-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P