Which ancient civilization created the most advanced 'retail analytics' system by employing designated officials to collect and analyze market data, record price fluctuations, and enforce standardized weights and measures?

Before digital dashboards and machine learning algorithms, ancient civilizations developed sophisticated methods to track commercial activities and consumer patterns. From Mesopotamian clay tablets recording grain transactions to Roman market inspectors monitoring prices and quality, data collection for trade was a critical function. This poll explores how ancient civilizations used early forms of retail analytics to make strategic marketplace decisions that influenced their economic success and cultural development.

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Ancient Egypt, with scribes who maintained the 'nilometers' to predict harvests and set grain prices across marketplaces
The Roman Empire, with aediles and praefectus annonae who monitored market prices, quality of goods, and maintained the annona system
Ancient China, with imperial officials who implemented the 'ever-normal granary' system to stabilize market prices through data collection
The Phoenicians, who used a network of traders to record and share pricing information across Mediterranean ports using coded tablets