Retail trade in Brussels: reconciling the city with a changing sector

Abstract

In 2017, the Brussels-Capital Region 20 700 points of sale for goods and services, accounting for 87 % of the expenditure made by the inhabitants of Brussels. This retail trade provides about 9 % of regional employment. This synopsis reviews what is known about distribution in Brussels, an indispensable economic sector whose complexity makes it difficult to understand due to its diversity, and which is subject to profound changes in consumption, the urban environment and the internal organisation of the profession. After outlining the framework of the analysis by defining trade through its functions, forms and stakeholders, the authors draw up several observations associated with major dynamics in the sector (transformation of supply and demand and changes in public regulation in particular). The third part of the synopsis responds to these observations by identifying clear issues which, if taken into account by the sector and supported by public authorities, could reconcile trade with urban space.