[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8190-8191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2514]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
2002 Economic Census Covering the Retail Trade and Accommodation
and Food Services Sectors
ACTION: Proposed collection, comment request.
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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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 30, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via
the Internet at mclayton@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Fay Dorsett, U. S. Census Bureau, Room 2679,
Building 3, Washington DC 20233-0001 (301-457-2687 or via the Internet
at fdorsett@census.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The economic census, conducted under authority of Title 13, United
States Code (U.S.C.), is the primary source of facts about the
structure and functioning of the Nation's economy. Economic statistics
serve as part of the framework for the national accounts and provide
essential information for government, business, and the general public.
Economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program commitment during
nondecennial census years. The 2002 Economic Census covering retail
trade and accommodation and food services sectors (as defined by the
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)) will measure the
economic activity of more than 1.6 million establishments. The
information collected will produce basic statistics by kind of business
on the number of establishments, sales, payroll, and employment. It
will also yield a variety of subject statistics, including sales by
merchandise line, sales by class of customer, and other industry-
specific measures. Primary strategies for reducing burden in Census
Bureau economic data collections are to increase electronic reporting
through broader use of computerized self-administered census
questionnaires, on-line questionnaires, and other electronic data
collection methods.
II. Method of Collection
A. Mail Selection Procedures
The retail trade and accommodation and food services sectors of the
economic census will select establishments for their mail canvasses
from the Census Bureau's Business Register. To be eligible for
selection, an establishment will be required to satisfy the following
conditions: (i) it must be classified in the retail trade or
accommodation and food services sector; (ii) it must be an active
operating establishment of a multi-establishment firm (i.e., a firm
that operates at more than one physical location), or it must be a
single-establishment firm with payroll (i.e., a firm operating at only
one physical location); and (iii) it must be located in one of the 50
states or the District of Columbia. Mail selection procedures will
distinguish the following groups of establishments:
[[Page 8191]]
1. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms
Selection procedures will assign all active operating
establishments of multi-establishment firms to the mail component of
the potential respondent universe. We estimate that the 2002 Economic
Census mail canvasses for the retail trade and accommodation and food
services sectors will include approximately 630,000 establishments of
multi-establishment firms.
2. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll
As an initial step in the selection process, we will conduct a
study of the potential respondent universe. This study will produce a
set of industry-specific payroll cutoffs that we will use to
distinguish large versus small single-establishment firms within each
industry or kind of business. This payroll size distinction will affect
selection as follows:
(a) Large Single-Establishment Firms
Selection procedures will assign single-establishment firms having
annualized payroll (from Federal administrative records) that equals or
exceeds the cutoff for their industry to the mail component of the
potential respondent universe. We estimate that the 2002 Economic
Census mail canvasses for the retail trade and accommodation and food
services sectors will include approximately 482,000 large single-
establishment firms.
(b) Small Single-Establishment Firms
Selection procedures will assign a sample of single-establishment
firms having annualized payroll below the cutoff for their industry to
the mail component of the potential respondent universe. Sampling
strata and corresponding probabilities of selection will be determined
by a study of the potential respondent universe conducted shortly
before mail selection operations begin. We estimate that the 2002
Economic Census mail canvasses for the retail trade and accommodation
and food services sectors will include approximately 114,000 small
single-establishment firms selected in this sample.
All remaining single-establishment firms with payroll will be
represented in the census by data from Federal administrative records.
Generally, we will not include these small employers in the census mail
canvasses. However, administrative records sometimes have fundamental
industry classification deficiencies that make them unsuitable for use
in producing detailed industry statistics by geographic area. When we
find such a deficiency, we will mail the firm a census classification
form. We estimate that the 2002 Economic Census mail canvasses for the
retail trade and accommodation and food services sectors will include
approximately 387,000 small single-establishment firms that receive
these forms.
III. Data
OMB Number: Not available.
Form Number: The 33 standard and seven classification forms used to
collect information from businesses in these sectors of the Economic
census are tailored to specific business practices and are too numerous
to list separately in this notice. Requests for information on the
proposed content of the forms should be directed to Fay Dorsett, U.S.
Census Bureau, Room 2679, Building 3, Washington DC 20233-0001 (301-
457-2687 or via the Internet at fdorsett@census.gov).
Type of Review: Regular review.
Affected Public: State or local governments, businesses, or other
for profit or non-profit institutions or organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
Retail Trade (Standard Form)--838,000
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--169,000
Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--386,000
Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--218,000
Total--1,611,000
Estimated Time Per Response:
Retail Trade (Standard Form)--1.00 hours
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--.20 hours
Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--.95 hours
Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--.20 hours
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:
Retail Trade (Standard Form)--838,000
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--33,800
Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--366,700
Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--43,600
Total--1,282,100
Estimated Total Annual Cost:
Retail Trade (Standard Form)--$12,838,160
Retail Trade (Classification Form)--$517,816
Accommodation and Food Services (Standard Form)--$5,617,844
Accommodation and Food Services (Classification Form)--$667,952
Total--$19,641,772
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13, USC, Sections 131 and 224.
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.
Dated: January 22, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-2514 Filed 1-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P