Data collected from state and local
officials on new residential construction authorized by building
permits provide one of the few monthly measures of economic
activity available for small geographic areas. The series, a
component of The Conference Board Leading Economic Index, is also
used to estimate the number of housing units started, completed,
and sold, if single-family, and to select samples for the Census
Bureau’s demographic surveys. Policymakers, planners, businesses,
and others also use the detailed geographic data to monitor growth,
plan for local services, and to develop production and marketing
plans.
The number of burden hours
increased due to the total number of permit-issuing jurisdictions
being larger than it was three years ago. When local permit offices
split the responsibility for issuing permits among their smaller
jurisdictions, we include those additional jurisdictions in order
to maintain the same coverage. This has the effect of increasing
the total number of respondents.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.