Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 22097-22099 [2017-09685]
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22097
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 91
Friday, May 12, 2017
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Notice of Public Meeting of the
Nebraska Advisory Committee To
Discuss Civil Rights Topics in the
State
U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights.
ACTION: Announcement of meeting.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act that
the Nebraska Advisory Committee
(Committee) will hold a meeting on
Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 2:00 p.m.
CDT for the purpose of Committee
orientation and a discussion on civil
rights topics affecting the state.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 2:00 p.m.
CDT.
Public Call Information: Dial: 888–
452–4023, Conference ID: 5195407.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Barreras, DFO, at dbarreras@
usccr.gov or 312–353–8311.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members
of the public can listen to the
discussion. This meeting is available to
the public through the following tollfree call-in number: 888–452–4023,
conference ID: 5195407. Any interested
member of the public may call this
number and listen to the meeting. An
open comment period will be provided
to allow members of the public to make
a statement as time allows. The
conference call operator will ask callers
to identify themselves, the organization
they are affiliated with (if any), and an
email address prior to placing callers
into the conference room. Callers can
expect to incur regular charges for calls
they initiate over wireless lines,
according to their wireless plan. The
Commission will not refund any
incurred charges. Callers will incur no
charge for calls they initiate over land-
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SUMMARY:
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line connections to the toll-free
telephone number. Persons with hearing
impairments may also follow the
proceedings by first calling the Federal
Relay Service at 1–800–977–8339 and
providing the Service with the
conference call number and conference
ID number.
Members of the public are also
entitled to submit written comments;
the comments must be received in the
regional office within 30 days following
the meeting. Written comments may be
mailed to the Midwestern Regional
Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights,
55 W. Monroe St., Suite 410, Chicago,
IL 60615. They may also be faxed to the
Commission at (312) 353–8324, or
emailed to Carolyn Allen at callen@
usccr.gov. Persons who desire
additional information may contact the
Midwestern Regional Office at (312)
353–8311.
Records generated from this meeting
may be inspected and reproduced at the
Midwestern Regional Office, as they
become available, both before and after
the meeting. Records of the meeting will
be available via www.facadatabase.gov
under the Commission on Civil Rights,
Nebraska Advisory Committee link
(https://database.faca.gov/committee/
committee.aspx?cid=260&aid=17).
Persons interested in the work of this
Committee are directed to the
Commission’s Web site, https://
www.usccr.gov, or may contact the
Midwestern Regional Office at the above
email or street address.
Agenda
Welcome and Roll Call
Orientation
Civil Rights Topics in Nebraska
Next Steps
Public Comment
Adjournment
Dated: May 9, 2017.
David Mussatt,
Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit.
[FR Doc. 2017–09666 Filed 5–11–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
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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
E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM
12MYN1
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
22098
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 91 / Friday, May 12, 2017 / Notices
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 ecommerce 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.
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17:41 May 11, 2017
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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
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 forprofit.
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
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12MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 91 / Friday, May 12, 2017 / Notices
notice to OIRA_Submission@
omb.eop.gov 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
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Hydrographic Services Review Panel
Meeting
National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of open public meeting
via webinar.
AGENCY:
The Hydrographic Services
Review Panel (HSRP) will hold a public
meeting to discuss the draft National
Charting Plan and other related topics
on navigation services such as: The draft
External Source of Data for Nautical
Charting; the draft OCS Autonomous
Systems Strategy; and the draft Coast
Survey Hydrographic Plan. Public
comments are requested. The HSRP
meeting agenda, webinar and
background documents can be found
online at: https://www.nauticalcharts.
noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm.
DATES: The meeting webinar is
scheduled for June 9, 2017, 1–4 p.m.
Eastern Time. The agenda and times are
subject to change. For updates, please
check online at: https://www.nautical
charts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm.
Webinar Information: This can be
found online at: https://www.nautical
charts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis, HSRP program
manager, National Ocean Service, Office
of Coast Survey, NOAA (N/NSD), 1315
East-West Highway, SSMC3 #6862,
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910;
telephone: 301–713–2750 ext. 166;
email: Lynne.Mersfelder@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The HSRP
public meeting will be conducted via
webinar and public comment is
encouraged. A public comment period
is scheduled during the webinar and
will be noted in the agenda. Each
individual or group making verbal
comments will be limited to a total time
of five (5) minutes and will be recorded.
Individuals who would like to submit
written statements in advance, during or
after the meeting should email their
comments to Lynne.Mersfelder@
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SUMMARY:
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17:41 May 11, 2017
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noaa.gov. Pre-registration is required to
access the webinar and to make public
comments. Additional information on
the webinar is available from
Lynne.Mersfelder@noaa.gov or online at:
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/
ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm.
The Hydrographic Services Review
Panel (HSRP) is a Federal Advisory
Committee established to advise the
Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere, the NOAA
Administrator, on matters related to the
responsibilities and authorities set forth
in section 303 of the Hydrographic
Services Improvement Act of 1998, as
amended, and such other appropriate
matters that the Under Secretary refers
to the Panel for review and advice. The
charter and other information are
located online at: https://www.nautical
charts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/CharterBylaws
HSIAStatute.htm. Past HSRP public
meeting summary reports,
presentations, transcripts, and other
information is available online at:
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/
ocs/hsrp/meetings.htm.
Matters To Be Considered: The panel
is convening to discuss four draft
documents relevant to NOAA’s
navigation services. Navigation services
include the data, products, and services
provided by the NOAA programs and
activities that undertake geodetic
observations, gravity modeling, coastal
mapping, bathymetric mapping,
hydrographic surveying, nautical
charting, tide and water level
observations, current observations, and
marine modeling. This suite of NOAA
products and services support safe and
efficient navigation, resilient coasts and
communities, and the nationwide
positioning information infrastructure to
support America’s commerce. Other
matters may be considered. The agenda
is subject to change.
Special Accommodations: This
meeting is accessible to people with
disabilities. Please direct requests to
Lynne.Mersfelder@noaa.gov by June 2,
2017.
Dated: May 3, 2017.
Shepard Smith,
Director, Office of Coast Survey, National
Ocean Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017–09642 Filed 5–11–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P
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22099
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF341
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental To Conducting
Subsea Cable Operations and
Maintenance Activities in the Arctic
Ocean
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed incidental harassment
authorization; request for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS has received a request
from Quintillion Subsea Operations,
LLC (Quintillion) for authorization to
take marine mammals incidental to
conducting subsea cable-laying and
maintenance activities in the Beaufort,
Bering, and Chukchi seas. Pursuant to
the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments
on its proposal to issue an incidental
harassment authorization (IHA) to
incidentally take marine mammals
during the specified activities.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than June 12, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service. Physical
comments should be sent to 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
and electronic comments should be sent
to ITP.Guan@noaa.gov.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments received
electronically, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF
file formats only. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted online at
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
incidental/research.htm without
change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address)
voluntarily submitted by the commenter
may be publicly accessible. Do not
submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shane Guan, Office of Protected
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 91 (Friday, May 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22097-22099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09685]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov 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
