Nov 23 -- The Census Bureau requests OMB approve an extension of a currently approved collection for forms C-700, C-700(R), C-700(SL), and C-700(F). These forms are used to conduct the Construction Progress Reporting Surveys (CPRS) and collect information on the dollar value of construction put in place. The public is invited to provide comments to OMB on this plan by December 24, 2021.
The Construction Progress Reporting Surveys (CPRS) collect information on the dollar value of construction put in place on non-residential building projects under construction by private companies or individuals, private multifamily residential buildings, and building projects under construction by federal and state and local governments.
Form C-700 is used to collect data on the construction of privately-owned nonresidential buildings and structures. Form C-700(R) is used to collect data on privately-owned residential building projects with two or more housing units. Form C-700(SL) is used to collect data on state and local government construction projects. Form C-700(F) is used to collect data on federal government construction projects.
The Census Bureau uses the information collected on these forms to publish estimates of the monthly dollar value of construction put in place. Statistics from the CPRS become part of the monthly “Value of Construction Put in Place” or “Construction Spending” series, a Principal Economic Indicator. Published estimates are used by a variety of private business and trade associations to estimate the demand for building materials and to schedule production, distribution, and sales efforts. They also provide various government agencies with a tool to evaluate economic policy. For example, Bureau of Economic Analysis staff use data to develop the construction components of gross private domestic investment in the gross domestic product. The Federal Reserve Board and the Department of the Treasury use the value put in place data to predict the gross domestic product, which is presented to the Board of Governors and has an impact on monetary policy.
There are currently no planned content changes to the questionnaires.
An independent systematic sample of construction projects is selected each month according to predetermined sample rates. Once a project is selected, it remains in the sample until completion. For the preliminary mailing, pre-printed forms are mailed to respondents. After the preliminary mailing, respondents have the option to report online. Respondents that consistently report electronically, receive email notifications and reminders to complete the online survey. Non-respondents are later called by a Census interviewer and are asked to report data over the phone.
Census Construction Spending website:
https://www.census.gov/construction/c30/c30index.html
CPRS submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202111-0607-006 Click on IC List for forms, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this website.
FR notice inviting public comment:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/11/23/2021-25517/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
Point of contact: Mr. Aidan Smith, Assistant Division Chief for Construction Indicator Programs, Census Bureau (301) 763-2972 aidan.d.smith@census.gov
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806