NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in District of Columbia: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 58.0 (High), ranked #50 of 51 states. 2,064 establishments, 19,991 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 58.0
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
High Risk

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

⛔High Barrier to Entry

Despite ranking top 10 in growth momentum, District of Columbia presents structural entry friction. Wage pressure (100.0) and an overall risk score of 58.0 indicate that top-line growth may not translate to favorable unit economics for new establishments.

5-Year Firm Retention
39.2%
Percentile within industry
Rank #32 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 70.3
Scale of 0-100
Rank #7 of 51 states
Establishment Density
27.1
vs. national average
Rank #10 of 51 states
Market Volatility
100.0
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
100.0
Labor cost pressure

2,064 Establishments in District of Columbia

2,064
Establishments
-0.7% YoY
19,991
Total Employment
-1.5% YoY
$51,035
Average Annual Wage
+7.7% YoY

District of Columbia vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric DC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 58.0 44.6 +13.4
5-Year Retention 39.2% 51.0% -11.8
Growth Momentum 70.3 42.9 +27.4
Market Volatility 100.0 24.4 +75.6
Establishment Density 27.1 49.0 -21.9
Wage Pressure 100.0 30.5 +69.5

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

District of Columbia Ranks #50 of 51 for Retail Trade

District of Columbia ranks #50 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
#50 District of Columbia You 58.0 high
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 District of Columbia stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How District of Columbia's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Virginia 41.6 #17/51 Maryland 43.6 #26/51

Other Industries in District of Columbia

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 →