NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Delaware: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 41.8 (Moderate), ranked #19 of 51 states. 3,860 establishments, 51,184 jobs.

Best retail trade metro in Delaware
Dover 69.8 #336/378 nationwide · 553 firms

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 41.8
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

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

📈Growth Opportunity

Delaware ranks top 10 in growth momentum while maintaining relatively low market saturation (bottom 15). This combination signals an underpenetrated market with expanding demand.

5-Year Firm Retention
78.4%
Percentile within industry
Rank #12 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 69.8
Scale of 0-100
Rank #8 of 51 states
Establishment Density
69.5
vs. national average
Rank #39 of 51 states
Market Volatility
71.5
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
28.0
Labor cost pressure

3,860 Establishments in Delaware

3,860
Establishments
+1.2% YoY
51,184
Total Employment
-0.5% YoY
$39,581
Average Annual Wage
+2.3% YoY

Retail Trade in Delaware Metro Areas

1 metro area with retail trade data in Delaware. Lower Metro Market Score = more favorable conditions.

Dover 69.8 #336/378 · 553 firms

Delaware vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric DE National Difference
Entry Risk Score 41.8 44.6 -2.8
5-Year Retention 78.4% 51.0% +27.4
Growth Momentum 69.8 42.9 +26.9
Market Volatility 71.5 24.4 +47.1
Establishment Density 69.5 49.0 +20.5
Wage Pressure 28.0 30.5 -2.5

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

Delaware Ranks #19 of 51 for Retail Trade

Delaware ranks #19 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
#19 Delaware You 41.8 moderate
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 Delaware stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

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

Pennsylvania 38.1 #6/51 Maryland 43.6 #26/51 New Jersey 43.7 #27/51

Other Industries in Delaware

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 →