THE CENSUS OF DISTRIBUTION - 25 YEARS IN THE DARK

Twenty-five years have now passed since the last Census of Distributio n was carried out. Since 1971, retailing has been thoroughly restructu red and at a time of massive change, the data sources for the understa nding of the spatial implications of this 'retail revolution' are inad equate. Commercial substitutes are incomplete and insufficient. Given the importance of retailing to the economy and to everyday, life, this statistical and spatial disaster should be rectified urgently.