NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Colorado: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 42.9 (Elevated), ranked #23 of 51 states. 18,214 establishments, 274,327 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 42.9
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

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

The retail trade sector in Colorado is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
17.6%
Percentile within industry
Rank #43 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 61.3
Scale of 0-100
Rank #14 of 51 states
Establishment Density
34.6
vs. national average
Rank #19 of 51 states
Market Volatility
13.8
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
24.0
Labor cost pressure

18,214 Establishments in Colorado

18,214
Establishments
-2.9% YoY
274,327
Total Employment
-0.5% YoY
$44,239
Average Annual Wage
+2.0% YoY

Colorado vs National Retail Trade Average

How Colorado's retail trade market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric CO National Difference
Entry Risk Score 42.9 44.6 -1.7
5-Year Retention 17.6% 51.0% -33.4
Growth Momentum 61.3 42.9 +18.4
Market Volatility 13.8 24.4 -10.6
Establishment Density 34.6 49.0 -14.4
Wage Pressure 24.0 30.5 -6.5

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within retail trade only.

Colorado Ranks #23 of 51 for Retail Trade

Colorado ranks #23 out of 51 states for retail trade market entry conditions.

Retail Trade Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin 33.3 moderate
#2 Nebraska 35.9 moderate
#3 Nevada 37.0 moderate
#4 Massachusetts 37.1 moderate
#5 Alaska 37.2 moderate
#23 Colorado You 42.9 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 37.2 · #5 Alabama — 46.4 · #36 Arkansas — 51.8 · #44 Arizona — 44.9 · #32 California — 44.0 · #28 Colorado — 42.9 · #23 Connecticut — 44.7 · #31 District of Columbia — 58.0 · #50 Delaware — 41.8 · #19 Florida — 51.0 · #43 Georgia — 47.5 · #38 Hawaii — 56.1 · #48 Iowa — 40.8 · #16 Idaho — 40.1 · #12 Illinois — 48.1 · #39 Indiana — 39.8 · #10 Kansas — 40.4 · #14 Kentucky — 46.4 · #36 Louisiana — 52.3 · #46 Massachusetts — 37.1 · #4 Maryland — 43.6 · #26 Maine — 44.1 · #29 Michigan — 40.5 · #15 Minnesota — 39.6 · #9 Missouri — 50.6 · #42 Mississippi — 59.2 · #51 Montana — 45.8 · #34 North Carolina — 43.4 · #25 North Dakota — 49.9 · #41 Nebraska — 35.9 · #2 New Hampshire — 48.7 · #40 New Jersey — 43.7 · #27 New Mexico — 39.9 · #11 Nevada — 37.0 · #3 New York — 57.2 · #49 Ohio — 39.2 · #8 Oklahoma — 46.3 · #35 Oregon — 42.9 · #24 Pennsylvania — 38.1 · #6 Rhode Island — 42.3 · #21 South Carolina — 44.3 · #30 South Dakota — 38.9 · #7 Tennessee — 42.8 · #22 Texas — 41.6 · #17 Utah — 40.3 · #13 Virginia — 41.6 · #17 Vermont — 52.1 · #45 Washington — 42.0 · #20 Wisconsin — 33.3 · #1 West Virginia — 52.8 · #47 Wyoming — 44.9 · #33
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does Colorado stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How Colorado's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Nebraska 35.9 #2/51 New Mexico 39.9 #11/51 Utah 40.3 #13/51 Kansas 40.4 #14/51 Arizona 44.9 #32/51 Wyoming 44.9 #33/51 Oklahoma 46.3 #35/51

Other Industries in Colorado

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →