NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Iowa: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 40.8 (Moderate), ranked #16 of 51 states. 11,103 establishments, 173,576 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 40.8
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

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

🛡️Stable Market

Iowa exhibits structural stability in retail trade, with volatility at 20.8 and firm retention ranking in the top 15. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
72.5%
Percentile within industry
Rank #15 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
26.9
Scale of 0-100
Rank #39 of 51 states
Establishment Density
49.9
vs. national average
Rank #29 of 51 states
Market Volatility
20.8
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
17.3
Labor cost pressure

11,103 Establishments in Iowa

11,103
Establishments
-0.2% YoY
173,576
Total Employment
-0.3% YoY
$34,865
Average Annual Wage
+1.5% YoY

Iowa vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric IA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 40.8 44.6 -3.8
5-Year Retention 72.5% 51.0% +21.5
Growth Momentum 26.9 42.9 -16.0
Market Volatility 20.8 24.4 -3.6
Establishment Density 49.9 49.0 +0.9
Wage Pressure 17.3 30.5 -13.2

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

Iowa Ranks #16 of 51 for Retail Trade

Iowa ranks #16 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
#16 Iowa You 40.8 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 Iowa stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

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

Wisconsin 33.3 #1/51 Nebraska 35.9 #2/51 South Dakota 38.9 #7/51 Minnesota 39.6 #9/51 Illinois 48.1 #39/51 Missouri 50.6 #42/51

Other Industries in Iowa

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 →