The U.S. Census Bureau seeks public comment “on the proposed extension of the Monthly Retail Surveys” by October 6, 2025.
“The Census Bureau plans to request an extension 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 sample frame and collect data that are published in conjunction with each other. These two surveys are collectively called the Monthly Retail Surveys (MRS). The Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) provides estimates of monthly retail sales, end-of-month merchandise inventories, and quarterly e-commerce sales for firms located in the United States and classified in the Retail Trade or Food Services sectors as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).”
The FRN notes that, “The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) uses the information collected on these surveys to prepare the National Income and Products Accounts, to benchmark the annual input-output tables and as critical inputs to the calculation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Policymakers at the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the National Economic Council, and other federal and state governmental agencies as well as many private sector entities rely on the timely estimates of retail sales when making monetary and economic policy decisions.”
The Bureau wants input to:
- “Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility”;
- “Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used”;
- “Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected”; and
- “Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.”
– Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Monthly Retail Surveys https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/05/2025-14783/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
Federal Register Notice on Monthly Retail Surveys
The U.S. Census Bureau seeks public comment “on the proposed extension of the Monthly Retail Surveys” by October 6, 2025.
“The Census Bureau plans to request an extension 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 sample frame and collect data that are published in conjunction with each other. These two surveys are collectively called the Monthly Retail Surveys (MRS). The Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) provides estimates of monthly retail sales, end-of-month merchandise inventories, and quarterly e-commerce sales for firms located in the United States and classified in the Retail Trade or Food Services sectors as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).”
The FRN notes that, “The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) uses the information collected on these surveys to prepare the National Income and Products Accounts, to benchmark the annual input-output tables and as critical inputs to the calculation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Policymakers at the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the National Economic Council, and other federal and state governmental agencies as well as many private sector entities rely on the timely estimates of retail sales when making monetary and economic policy decisions.”
The Bureau wants input to:
- “Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility”;
- “Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used”;
- “Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected”; and
- “Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.”
– Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Monthly Retail Surveys https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/05/2025-14783/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
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