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 Bureauâs 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.