NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Port St. Lucie, FL

Metro Market Score 55.7 (Challenging), ranked #205 of 378 metros. 1,684 establishments, 22,725 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 55.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

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

📈Rapid Growth

Port St. Lucie scores 55.7 on the Metro Market Score for retail trade, placing it in the lower half. High wage costs, strong existing competition, or slowing growth contribute to tougher entry conditions compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
89.2
LQ: 1.36
Rank #337 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
56.9
$38,579 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 82.0
Employment growth index
Rank #69 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
68.9
YoY wage change index

1,684 Retail Trade Firms in Port St. Lucie

1,684
Establishments
+0.4% YoY
22,725
Total Employment
+1.3% YoY
$38,579
Average Annual Wage
+1.4% YoY
1.36
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Port St. Lucie vs Florida Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Florida overall. The state ranks #43/51 for entry risk.

Measure Port St. Lucie FL Statewide
Overall Score 55.7 Challenging 51.0 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #205 of 378 metros #43 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Port St. Lucie

Construction 42.5 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 42.7 Information 50.0 Finance and Insurance 50.7 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 56.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 58.2 Administrative and Support Services 61.5 Other Services 70.4 Accommodation and Food Services 71.9

Retail Trade in Other Florida Metros

Gainesville 24.8 #2/378 Tallahassee 38.1 #37/378 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville 47.7 #106/378 Jacksonville 48.1 #110/378 Homosassa Springs 49.6 #131/378 Panama City-Panama City Beach 50.1 #142/378 Sebring 50.6 #149/378 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford 52.0 #163/378 Wildwood-The Villages 52.1 #164/378 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent 54.0 #188/378

+ 11 more metros. View all in Florida →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Port St. Lucie's retail trade sector, the industry concentration component (89.2) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.