NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Montgomery, AL

Metro Market Score 49.9 (Challenging), ranked #137 of 378 metros. 1,363 establishments, 17,526 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 49.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

At #137 of 378 metros, Montgomery's retail trade sector scores 49.9 on the market index. Concentration (27.8), wage levels (41.8), and growth (32.5) all track close to the median. Local factors like lease costs and client access will matter more than macro signals.

Industry Concentration
27.8
LQ: 1.04
Rank #105 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
41.8
$36,736 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 32.5
Employment growth index
Rank #256 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
61.1
YoY wage change index

1,363 Retail Trade Firms in Montgomery

1,363
Establishments
+0.2% YoY
17,526
Total Employment
-1.3% YoY
$36,736
Average Annual Wage
-0.1% YoY
1.04
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Montgomery vs Alabama Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Alabama overall. The state ranks #36/51 for entry risk.

Measure Montgomery AL Statewide
Overall Score 49.9 Challenging 46.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #137 of 378 metros #36 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Montgomery

Construction 28.7

Retail Trade in Other Alabama Metros

Tuscaloosa 32.9 #14/378 Auburn-Opelika 35.6 #27/378 Decatur 37.0 #31/378 Gadsden 41.9 #55/378 Huntsville 44.8 #81/378 Birmingham 51.8 #161/378 Anniston-Oxford 52.9 #175/378 Mobile 54.9 #195/378 Florence-Muscle Shoals 61.9 #276/378 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley 62.9 #285/378

+ 1 more metros. View all in Alabama →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Montgomery's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (67.5) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.