Notice2021-23730
Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 1, 2021
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentLabor Statistics Bureau
Abstract
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. 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 extension of the International Price Program (IPP) U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the Addresses section of this notice.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 208 (Monday, November 1, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 208 (Monday, November 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60293-60295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23730]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.
[[Page 60294]]
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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. 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 extension of the International Price
Program (IPP) U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. A copy of the
proposed information collection request 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 January 3, 2022.
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 email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8ccec0dfd3dcdecdd3dcf9eee0e5efcceee0ffa2ebe3fa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a4e6e8f7fbf4f6e5fbf4d1c6c8cdc7e4c6c8d78ac3cbd2">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, produced by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics' International Price Program (IPP), measure price
change over time for all categories of imported and exported products,
as well as selected services. The IPP has produced the U.S. Import
Price Indexes (MPI) continuously since 1973 and the U.S. Export Price
Indexes (XPI) continuously since 1971. The Office of Management and
Budget has listed the Import and Export Price Indexes (MXPI) as a
Principal Federal Economic Indicator since 1982. The indexes are widely
used in both the public and private sectors. The primary public sector
use is the deflation of the U.S. monthly trade statistics and the
quarterly estimates of U.S. Gross Domestic Product; the indexes also
are used in formulating U.S. trade policy and in trade negotiations
with other countries. In the private sector, uses of the Import Price
Indexes include market analysis, inflation forecasting, contract
escalation, and replacement cost accounting.
The MXPI are closely followed statistics, and are viewed as a key
indicator of the economic environment. The U.S. Department of Commerce
uses the monthly statistics to produce monthly and quarterly estimates
of inflation-adjusted trade flows. Without continuation of data
collection, it would be extremely difficult to construct accurate
estimates of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. In fact, a budget
proposal to curtail publication of the export price indexes beginning
in FY15 was met with resistance from the Commerce Department who
explained that a viable substitute is not available. The Beyond the
Numbers article ``Analyzing alternatives to export price indexes''
(<a href="http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-3/analyzing-alternatives-to-export-price-indexes.htm">http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-3/analyzing-alternatives-to-export-price-indexes.htm</a>) explores alternatives to using BLS' export price
indexes to deflate the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and explains why
there are currently no comparable replacements.
Additionally, Federal policymakers in the Department of Treasury,
the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Federal Reserve Board utilize
these statistics on a regular basis to improve these agencies'
formulation and evaluation of monetary and fiscal policy and evaluation
of the general business environment.
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the
U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. The IPP continues to modernize
data collection and processing to permit more timely release of its
indexes, and to reduce reporter burden. The IPP has expanded the use of
its web application, introduced in 2003, and in 2018, it replaced the
mail out and fax back of paper forms as IPP's primary repricing method.
The web application allows respondents to update their data online and
more rapidly than using a paper-based form. As of September 2021, 93
percent of IPP respondents were providing prices via the web
application or had agreed to start using this repricing method.
Respondents who provide price information using non-web options do so
via non-automated telephone, special arrangements between the analysts
and respondents, or email.
The IPP has implemented several systems changes over the years in
order to reduce burden for web respondents. Most recently, the IPP
adopted the use of a new web application format/layout (deployed in
2019). Previously, the web survey used separate pages for each part of
the repricing process; now, the web application utilizes modal windows
in combination with separate pages.
Of particular note, the Program has been conducting research into
whether administrative trade data can be used in place of directly
collected price data for more homogenous product areas. As part of this
effort, IPP published historical research export unit value price
indexes calculated using trade transaction data. Should IPP's research
efforts result in the replacement of directly collected data with trade
data collected by other government agencies, the Program would achieve
a milestone in burden reduction. More details are available on the MXP
Research page (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/mxp/data/research.htm">https://www.bls.gov/mxp/data/research.htm</a>).
III. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in
comments that:
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected.
<bullet> 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.
Title of Collection: International Price Program (IPP) U.S. Import
and Export Price Indexes.
OMB Number: 1220-0025.
Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profits.
[[Page 60295]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average time Estimated
Form Total Frequency Total per response total burden
respondents responses (hours) hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 3008.................... .............. Annually.........
Imports.................. 1,300 ................. 1,300 1.0 1,300
Exports.................. 900 ................. 900 1.0 900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................ 2,200 ................. 2,200 .............. 2,200
Repricing Form............... .............. Monthly..........
Imports.................. 2,350 8.9 \1\.......... 20,915 \2\.4683 9,794
Exports.................. 1,500 9.1 \1\.......... 13,650 \3\.4277 5,838
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................ 3,850 ................. 34,565 .............. 15,632
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........... .............. ................. 36,765 .............. 17,832
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ During initiation, the respondent determines how many months he/she will need to supply data in a given year
based upon how often the company changes its pricing information. The average company is requested to supply
information 9.1 months per year for exports and 8.9 months per year for imports.
\2\ Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 5.620 items = 28.100 minutes/60 = .4683
hours.
\3\ Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 5.132 items = 25.660 minutes/60 = .4277
hours.
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, on this 27th day of October 2021.
Eric Molina,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 2021-23730 Filed 10-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 1, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.