Commodity trade and localization of trade are subject to state planning, and is further rooted in regulations on lower geographical levels. There are great expectations for trade as a premise for the development of our cities and towns, not least as a factor in the revitalization of downtown areas that have been subject to disintegration. Vista Analyse has conducted trade analyses in more than a hundred municipalities and regions. We have developed a methodical analysis with its own databases for projections, built on time series going back ten years in time. Tools and methods are adapted to government requirements for this type of analysis. Retail trade is central in urban planning and urban development. Therefore, Vista Analyse is collaborating with an increasing number of architects who specialize in urban development. Our methodological approach is broad and subject to constant development.