[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 184 (Friday, September 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55513-55514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8059]


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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 ``The Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The 
Quarterly Interview and the Diary.'' 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 November 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, 202-691-7628. (This 
is not a toll free number.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 
202-691-7628. (See Addresses section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Consumer Expenditure (CE) Surveys collect data on consumer 
expenditures, demographic information, and related data needed by the 
Consumer Price Index (CPI) and other public and private data users. The 
continuing surveys provide a constant measurement of changes in 
consumer expenditure patterns for economic analysis and to obtain data 
for future CPI revisions. The CE Surveys have been ongoing since 1979.
    The data from the CE Surveys are used (1) for CPI revisions, (2) to 
provide a continuous flow of data on income and expenditure patterns 
for use in economic analysis and policy formulation, and (3) to provide 
a flexible consumer survey vehicle that is available for use by other 
Federal Government agencies. Public and private users of price 
statistics, including Congress and the economic policymaking agencies 
of the Executive branch, rely on data collected in the CPI in their 
day-to-day activities. Hence, data users and policymakers widely accept 
the need to improve the process used for revising the CPI. If the CE 
Surveys were not conducted on a continuing basis, current information 
necessary for more timely, as well as more accurate, updating of the 
CPI would not be available. In addition, data would not be available to 
respond to the continuing demand from the public and private sectors 
for current information on consumer spending.
    In the Quarterly Interview Survey, each consumer unit (CU) in the 
sample is interviewed every three months over five calendar quarters. 
The sample for each quarter is divided into three panels, with CUs 
being interviewed every three months in the same panel of every 
quarter. The Quarterly Interview Survey is designed to collect data on 
the types of expenditures that respondents can be expected to recall 
for a period of three months or longer. In general the expenses 
reported in the Interview Survey are either relatively large, such as 
property, automobiles, or major appliances, or are expenses which occur 
on a fairly regular basis, such as rent, utility bills, or insurance 
premiums.
    The Diary (or recordkeeping) Survey is completed at home by the 
respondent family for two consecutive one-week periods. The primary 
objective of the Diary Survey is to obtain expenditure data on small, 
frequently purchased items which normally are difficult to recall over 
longer periods of time.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
``The Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The Quarterly Interview and the 
Diary.''
    The Consumer Expenditure Quarterly Interview Survey has recently 
undergone a thorough review. The proposed changes from this review fall 
into two major categories: streamlining the current questions in 
several sections and updating several questions and sections to reflect 
the current marketplace.
    In the streamlining category, the BLS deleted or collapsed obsolete 
questions. Examples of deleted or collapsed questions include: making 
refrigerators and freezers one item code rather than two codes in all 
applicable sections, adding screener questions for some miscellaneous 
items which reduces the need to ask about each individual item, and 
regrouping questions about expenditures on food and beverages so fewer 
questions are asked of the respondent. In addition, the BLS, 
restructured how expenditures for telephone services and utilities are 
collected making the collection process more efficient and less 
burdensome on the respondent.
    To keep the survey current, question wording changed and new items 
were added. Examples of new items added are Voice Over IP services, 
vacation clubs, changes in premiums for Medicare Part D, interest only 
mortgages, and reverse mortgages. Question wording also was changed in 
some sections to collect additional data for some items. Examples of 
changes to question wording include more detailed information for 
timeshare properties; questions on installation and set-up charges 
included with the purchase of televisions, home theater, and audio 
equipment; and whether, in select Primary Sampling Units (PSUs), a 
rental property is under rent control. These changes were made to keep 
the survey current with products and services available in the 
marketplace and to provide better data for analytical purposes.
    A full list of the proposed changes to the Quarterly Interview 
Survey is

[[Page 55514]]

available upon request. There are no changes to the Diary Survey for 
2007.

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.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: The Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The Quarterly Interview 
and the Diary.
    OMB Number: 1220-0050.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.

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                                      Total                           Total       Average  time     Estimated
              Form                 respondents      Frequency       responses     per  response    total burden
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CE Quarterly Interview CAPI               8,825               4          35,300              65           38,242
 Instrument....................
CE Quarterly Interview                    4,000               1           4,000              10              667
 Reinterview CAPI Instrument...
CE Diary: Household                       7,050               3          21,150              25            8,813
 Questionnaire CAPI Instrument.
CE: Diary CE-801, Record of               7,050               2          14,100             105           24,675
 Your Daily Expenses...........
CE Diary Reinterview CAPI                 1,300               1           1,300              10              217
 Instrument....................
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    Totals.....................  ..............  ..............          75,850  ..............           72,614
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    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 15th day of September 2006.
Kimberley Hill,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 06-8059 Filed 9-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P