[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50449-50450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20106]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Proposed Collection, Comment Request
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the
proposed revision of the ``Telephone Point of Purchase Survey.'' A copy
of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by
contacting the individual listed below in the Addresses section of this
notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice on or before October 18, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer,
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080,
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also
may be transmitted by fax to 202-691-5111 (this is not a toll free
number).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer,
at 202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES
section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The purpose of this survey is to develop and maintain a timely list
of retail, wholesale, and service establishments where urban consumers
shop for specified items. This information is used as the sampling
universe for selecting establishments at which prices of specific items
are collected and monitored for use in calculating the Consumer Price
Index (CPI). The survey has been ongoing since 1980 and also provides
expenditure data that allows items that are priced in the CPI to be
properly weighted.
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the
Telephone Point of Purchase Survey. Since 1997, the survey has been
[[Page 50450]]
administered quarterly via a computer-assisted-telephone-interview.
This survey is flexible and creates the possibility of introducing new
products into the CPI in a timely manner. The data collected in this
survey are necessary for the continuing construction of a current
outlet universe from which locations are selected for the price
collection needed for calculating the CPI. Furthermore, the TPOPS
provides the weights used in selecting the items that are priced at
these establishments. This sample design produces an overall CPI market
basket that is more reflective of the prices faced and the
establishments visited by urban consumers.
Pursuant to the terms of the previous ICR, a cell phone frame was
tested in the third quarter of 2011 and deployed in the second quarter
of 2012. The cell phone frame was added to address a coverage issue
associated with landline RDD surveys. According to the National Health
Interview Survey (NHIS), the percentage of households without landline
service is increasing as cell phone use becomes more widespread.
Including a cell phone frame allows the survey to reach households with
no landline service, but with cellular phone service.
III. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics 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.
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 submissions of responses.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Title: Telephone Point of Purchase Survey.
OMB Number: 1220-0044.
Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
Total Respondents: 26,653.
Frequency: Quarterly.
Total Responses: 53,839.
Average Time per Response: 12.76 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 11,450 hours.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a
matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 13th day of August 2013.
Kimberley Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor, Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2013-20106 Filed 8-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P