Letter to Respondents

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Suite 610 East - The Curtis Center
170 South Independence Mall West
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106-3305

To Whom It May Concern:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is asking for your voluntary cooperation in providing
information for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is a statistical measure of price
change for goods and services typically purchased by urban consumers. As the only
comprehensive measure of inflation at the retail level, the CPI is widely used by private
industry, labor, and government for making informed business and economic decisions.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is updating the sample of outlets contacted for the Consumer
Price Index. Your establishment is one of many local retail stores or service establishments
that are being asked to participate in our ongoing survey. These outlets were chosen based
on the results of a previous survey in which area consumers were asked where they
purchased various items.
The representative who contacts you will have an official identification card that you may
inspect. During this initiation visit, he/she will use a statistical procedure to select items or
services to price over time. On average, it will take an hour to determine your
eligibility and, if eligible, complete the initial survey. Either a monthly or bimonthly
follow-up survey should take about 20 minutes. The Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) has approved this survey and the OMB Control Number is 1220-0039.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, its employees, agents, and partner statistical agencies,
will use the information you provide for statistical purposes only and will hold the
information in confidence to the full extent permitted by law. In accordance with
the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002
(CIPSEA) (Title 5 of Public Law 107-347) and other applicable Federal laws, your
responses will not be disclosed in identifiable form without your informed consent.
Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, Federal information systems
are protected from malicious activities through cybersecurity screening of transmitted
data.
Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,

SHEILA WATKINS
Regional Commissioner
of Labor Statistics
Regional Commissioner
(215) 861-5600
Fax (215) 861-5703

Public Information
(215) 597-3282
Fax (215) 861-5720
http://stats.bls.gov

Federal/State Programs
(215) 861-5633
Fax (215) 861-5736

Price Programs
(215) 861-5650
Fax (215) 861-5734

Compensation Programs
(215) 861-5695
Fax (215) 861-5731