Census Keeps Tabs on Store Sales with Quick Monthly Surveys
Published Date: 12/3/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau is asking to keep running its Monthly Retail Surveys, which track how much stores and restaurants sell each month. About 13,000 businesses will keep sharing quick 7-minute reports, helping everyone understand how the economy is doing. No changes or extra costs are planned, and the public can comment for 30 more days starting December 3, 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Monthly Retail Survey Continues
If your business is an employer in retail trade or food services, the Census Bureau plans to continue the Monthly Retail Surveys. About 13,000 businesses will keep providing a short monthly report that averages 7 minutes per response, with total burden hours of 18,200; the submission is an extension without change and is voluntary.
30-Day Comment Period Open
The public can submit written comments on the Monthly Retail Surveys for 30 days starting December 3, 2025. Comments should be submitted via www.reginfo.gov using the OMB Control Number 0607-0717 or the collection title.
Retail Data Supports Economic Measures
The Monthly Retail Surveys produce estimates of monthly retail sales, end-of-month merchandise inventories, and quarterly e-commerce sales that the Bureau says are critical to accurately measuring total economic activity. Continuing the surveys maintains these monthly statistics used by government, business, and other users to track the economy.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-14554, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Internet Panel Pretesting and Qualitative Survey Methods Testing
The Census Bureau wants to keep testing online surveys and internet panels to make sure their questions work well and don’t waste your time. They’re asking for your thoughts by September 18, 2026, before getting final approval. This helps keep surveys smart, quick, and less annoying for everyone involved, with no extra cost or big time changes.
2026-14512, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions
The Census Bureau wants to keep running its Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions for three more years and is asking the public to share their thoughts by September 18, 2026. This survey helps track new home building and sales, affecting builders, buyers, and policymakers. No big changes or costs are planned, just a smooth continuation to keep housing data fresh and useful.
2026-14513, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders (M3) Survey
The Census Bureau wants to keep collecting monthly info from U.S. manufacturers about their shipments, inventories, and orders through the M3 survey. They’re asking the public to share thoughts by September 18, 2026, before they get final approval. This helps keep the data flowing without adding extra hassle or cost to businesses.
2026-13801, Age Search Fee Structure
Starting August 7, 2026, the Census Bureau is raising the Age Search fee from $65 to $155 and the rush fee from $20 to $50. This service helps people get official proof of their age from old census records, especially if they don’t have a birth certificate. These changes cover the real costs of processing requests, which haven’t been updated since 2004.
2026-11886, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; DOC-Census Workforce Development Collection
The Census Bureau wants your thoughts on a new survey about workforce training programs run by the Department of Commerce. This survey will help improve how they track and support people in these programs, with no cost to participants. You’ve got until August 11, 2026, to share your feedback before the survey gets the green light from the Office of Management and Budget.
2026-11293, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS)
The Census Bureau is asking to keep collecting housing vacancy info every month without changes. About 59,000 landlords, rental agents, and neighbors help by sharing quick updates on empty homes, which helps everyone understand the housing market better. This survey keeps running smoothly with no extra cost or time burden, and you’ve got 30 days to share your thoughts!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-21843, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings
The Center for Scientific Review is holding a closed virtual meeting on January 29, 2026, to review important grant applications related to epidemiology and population health. These meetings are private to protect sensitive information and personal privacy. Researchers and grant applicants should note this schedule, but no new funding or policy changes are announced here.
Next: 2025-21845, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings
The Center for Scientific Review is holding a closed virtual meeting on February 6, 2026, to review grant applications in chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics. These meetings are private to protect sensitive information like trade secrets and personal details. Scientists applying for grants and NIH staff are the main players, with no direct cost or public access changes announced.