The Annual Retail Trade Survey provides the only continuing official measure of annual sales, purchases, end-of-year inventories, sales/inventory ratios, and accounts receivable balances for the retail sector. The sales and inventories estimates are used as benchmarks for the monthly series. These data, along with purchases, are also used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the computation of the GDP. The accounts receivable balances are used by the Federal Reserve Board. Private businesses use the estimates in computing business activity indexes for market research, product development, and business planning to gauge the current trends of the economy. Responses are a sample of retail establishments in the U.S.
The burden hour estimate is 19,105 hours more than the previously approved ARTS. This increase is due to incorporating the detailed operating expense questions for the 2017 ARTS. This collection did not occur during the last three-year cycle of OMB approval.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.