Introduction

Background. Distributive trade statistics (DTS) constitute a subject area of economic statistics concerned with provision of data on economic units whose main activity is wholesaling and retailing (that is to say, sale without transformation) of any types of goods together with performing services incidental to sales such as repair, installation and delivery. The growing interest in distributive trade statistics has been due to a steady increase in the contribution of distributive trade to the total economy in terms of value added and employment in most countries. Increasingly, distributive trade provides a link not only between producers and buyers of goods who are residents of a given economy, but also between producers and buyers operating as exporters and importers on the global markets. In this context, availability of highquality distributive trade statistics becomes a precondition for an in-depth analysis of globalization. While, in developed countries, distributive trade is well organized and can normally be captured by standard statistical means, the fact that, in developing countries, much distributive trade is still carried out in the informal sector of the economy complicates statistical observation.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure