33. The system of claim 32 wherein said consumer data base furthers comprises non-identifying demographic data.
32. A system for electronic commerce wherein market data can be collected and analyzed comprising: a plurality of consumer agents, each associated with and capable of communicating with a consumer; a consumer data base comprising consumer preference data associated with each said consumer; a plurality of provider agents, each associated with and capable of communicating with a provider; and a data base of offers to sell and offers to buy; wherein said consumer agents conceal the identity of the associated consumer from agents not associated with said consumer in said system; wherein said consumer agents are capable of searching said data base of offers to sell and offers to buy; wherein said consumer agent searching generates persistent market data; wherein said provider agents are capable of searching said consumer database and said persistent market data; and wherein said provider agents analyze said consumer database and said persistent market data to quantify consumer demand.