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.

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

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 →