NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Connecticut: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 44.7 (Elevated), ranked #31 of 51 states. 12,671 establishments, 165,499 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 44.7
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

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

🛡️Stable Market

Connecticut exhibits structural stability in retail trade, with volatility at 27.0 and firm retention ranking in the top half. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
70.6%
Percentile within industry
Rank #16 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
28.7
Scale of 0-100
Rank #36 of 51 states
Establishment Density
51.4
vs. national average
Rank #30 of 51 states
Market Volatility
27.0
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
34.7
Labor cost pressure

12,671 Establishments in Connecticut

12,671
Establishments
-0.5% YoY
165,499
Total Employment
-0.8% YoY
$45,372
Average Annual Wage
+2.8% YoY

Connecticut vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric CT National Difference
Entry Risk Score 44.7 44.6 +0.1
5-Year Retention 70.6% 51.0% +19.6
Growth Momentum 28.7 42.9 -14.2
Market Volatility 27.0 24.4 +2.6
Establishment Density 51.4 49.0 +2.4
Wage Pressure 34.7 30.5 +4.2

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

Connecticut Ranks #31 of 51 for Retail Trade

Connecticut ranks #31 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
#31 Connecticut You 44.7 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 Connecticut stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

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

Massachusetts 37.1 #4/51 Rhode Island 42.3 #21/51 New York 57.2 #49/51

Other Industries in Connecticut

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 →