OMB_2012_WH_Supporting_Statement_Part_B

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Census Bureau
2012 Economic Census Covering the Wholesale Trade Sector
OMB Control Number 0607-0929

Part B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
1.

Description of Universe
The 2012 Economic Census covering Wholesale Trade is a complete enumeration of establishments with
payroll located in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Census data for 2007 recorded 435,000
wholesale establishments; by 2012 this number should be approximately 450,000. Further information
on the establishment universe and estimated mail counts for the Wholesale Trade sector of the 2012
Economic Census are given in Attachment B.

2.

Mail Selection and Estimation Procedures
a.

Mail Selection Procedures
Establishments in the Wholesale Trade sector of the economic census will be selected from the
Census Bureau’s Business Register for a mail canvass. To be eligible for selection, an
establishment will be required to satisfy the following conditions: (i) it must be classified in the
Wholesale Trade sector; (ii) it must be an active operating establishment of a multiestablishment firm (i.e., a firm that operates at more than one physical location), or it must be a
single-establishment firm with payroll (i.e., a firm operating at only one physical location); and
(iii) it must be located in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Mail selection
procedures will distinguish the following groups of establishments:
(1)

Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms

All active operating establishments of multi-establishment firms will be included in the mail
component of the potential respondent universe. We estimate that the 2012 Economic Census
mail canvass for the Wholesale Trade sector will include approximately 134,000 establishments
of multi-establishment firms.
(2)

Single-Establishment Firms with Payroll

All single-establishment firms having annualized payroll (from Federal administrative records)
will be included in the mail component of the potential respondent universe. We estimate that
the 2012 Economic Census mail canvass for the Wholesale Trade sector will include
approximately 316,000 establishments of single-establishment firms.
b.

Estimation Procedures
(1)

Basic Statistics
Census tabulations for basic statistics are simple summations of data from a complete
enumeration. They do not entail estimates from a sample.

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(2)

Subject Statistics
Census tabulations for subject statistics, such as product line sales and industry-specific
special inquiries, are simple summations of data from a complete enumeration. They do
not entail estimates from a sample. These statistics are derived by summing data, with
adjustments made to account for nonresponse, mailout misclassification, and other
coverage errors.

c.

Required Accuracy
(1)

Sampling Error
(a)

Basic Statistics
The accuracy of basic statistics from the census is not affected by sampling
error, since these measures are based on a complete enumeration of the
establishment universe. A high degree of accuracy and statistical reliability is
required, because the census basic statistics provide benchmarks for the
national accounts; the U.S. Census Bureau’s current economic surveys; and
other surveys conducted by trade groups, businesses, and researchers.

(b)

Subject Statistics
The accuracy of subject statistics from the census is not affected by sampling
error, since these measures are based on a complete enumeration of the
establishment universe.

(2)

Nonsampling Error
The accuracy of all census data is influenced by nonsampling errors, such as those
affecting coverage, administrative records, report form design, reporting, processing,
and tabulation. Although we make no direct measurement of nonsampling errors, we
take precautionary steps in all phases of planning, report form development, data
collection, processing, and tabulation to minimize their influence.

d.

Problems Requiring Specialized Sampling Procedures
There are no known problems that will require specialized sampling procedures for the 2012
Economic Census.

e.

Use of Periodic Data Collection to Reduce Burden
The census uses periodic (5-year) data collection, as required by Title 13 USC, Section 131.

3.

Efforts to Maximize Response
This information collection will maximize response through the following means: (i) public awareness

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campaign to assist businesses and the public in understanding the importance of the 2012 Economic
Census by providing news stories through trade and professional associations, chambers of commerce,
and business and general media; (ii) assignment of account managers to very large businesses to provide
personalized assistance; (iii) redesigned census report form and information sheets with standard
formats and terminology that try to simplify reporting and minimize response burden; (iv) extensive
electronic reporting capabilities that will allow every business to report using electronic report forms or
the Internet; (v) mailing materials that emphasize the mandatory and confidential nature of census
reports, as provided by Title 13 USC; (vi) toll-free assistance and a web-based help desk for any business
that has questions about completing its census report; and (vii) systematic mail follow-up for
nonresponse, supplemented by telephone follow-up for selected firms.
Through these and other response improvement strategies, we expect to maintain or improve the 86
percent response rate (calculated by the number of reports forms returned as a percent of the report
forms mailed) obtained by the 2007 Economic Census. This level of response will yield accuracy and
reliability that are adequate for intended uses of economic census data.
4.

Tests of Procedures or Methods
This information collection will use procedures that are based on a considerable body of experience with
the economic census and surveys. Previous economic censuses also have been the subject of evaluation
studies that have examined methodology, conceptual issues, and related statistical questions. As a result,
the procedures used by the 2012 Economic Census are very well tested.

5.

Contacts for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection
Statistical methodology is developed under the direction of William C. Davie, Jr., Assistant Division Chief
for Research and Methodology, Service Sector Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC
20233 (telephone 301-763-7182). The 2012 Economic Census covering the Wholesale Trade sector is
conducted under the direction of Jack Moody, Assistant Division Chief for Census Programs, Service Sector
Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233 (telephone 301-763-2724).

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Attachments
A.

Report Form Numbers, Titles, and Associated Burden Estimates for FY 2013

B.

Composition of the Establishment Universe and Estimated Mail Counts for the 2012 Economic Census

C.

Form Content
Attachment C-1.
Attachment C-2.
Attachment C-3.
Attachment C-4.
Attachment C-5.
Attachment C-6.
Attachment C-7.
Attachment C-8.

D.

Prototype Form
Variable Content for Item 5—Sales, Shipments, Receipts, or Revenue
Variable Content for Item 16—Selected Expenses
Variable Content for Item 19A—Kind of Business
Variable Content for Item 19B—Type of Operation
Variable Content for Item 22—Detail of Sales, Shipments, Receipts, or Revenue
Variable Content for Item 26—Special Inquiries
Ownership or Control Flier (NC-99542)

Information Sheets
Attachment D-1. Information Sheet for Single-Establishment Firms
Attachment D-2. Information Sheet for Multi-Establishment Firms

E.

Consultations with Federal Agencies, Trade Groups, and Trade Publications: Selected Correspondence

F.

Summary of Changes to Report Forms