NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Bay City, MI

Metro Market Score 69.3 (Difficult), ranked #330 of 378 metros. 291 establishments, 4,591 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 69.3
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

Market conditions for retail trade in Bay City are tougher than average. The 69.3 market score reflects a combination of moderate wages, slowing employment, and an already crowded field. Rank: #330 of 378 metros.

Industry Concentration
87.0
LQ: 1.35
Rank #329 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
41.0
$36,695 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 20.4
Employment growth index
Rank #302 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
66.8
YoY wage change index

291 Retail Trade Firms in Bay City

291
Establishments
-8.2% YoY
4,591
Total Employment
-2.0% YoY
$36,695
Average Annual Wage
+1.0% YoY
1.35
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Bay City vs Michigan Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Michigan overall. The state ranks #15/51 for entry risk.

Measure Bay City MI Statewide
Overall Score 69.3 Difficult 40.5 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #330 of 378 metros #15 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 Bay City

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 23.0 Construction 23.9 Other Services 30.8 Finance and Insurance 31.5 Information 36.2 Healthcare and Social Assistance 51.6 Accommodation and Food Services 64.5 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 67.0

Retail Trade in Other Michigan Metros

Niles 33.4 #15/378 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood 37.1 #32/378 Muskegon-Norton Shores 47.1 #100/378 Midland 50.1 #141/378 Ann Arbor 52.6 #169/378 Lansing-East Lansing 55.0 #197/378 Monroe 55.1 #198/378 Battle Creek 58.5 #238/378 Saginaw 60.8 #265/378 Traverse City 61.3 #268/378

+ 4 more metros. View all in Michigan →

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 Bay City's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (79.6) 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.