NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Mississippi: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 59.2 (High), ranked #51 of 51 states. 12,369 establishments, 138,774 jobs.

Best retail trade metro in Mississippi
Gulfport-Biloxi 34.2 #18/378 nationwide · 1,616 firms

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 59.2
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
High Risk

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

The retail trade sector in Mississippi shows signs of market maturation: momentum index at 33.3 (bottom half) combined with below-average firm retention (bottom 10). Net establishment formation is likely flat or negative.

5-Year Firm Retention
19.6%
Percentile within industry
Rank #42 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
33.3
Scale of 0-100
Rank #30 of 51 states
Establishment Density
82.5
vs. national average
Rank #45 of 51 states
Market Volatility
7.8
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
32.0
Labor cost pressure

12,369 Establishments in Mississippi

12,369
Establishments
+1.4% YoY
138,774
Total Employment
-0.4% YoY
$33,285
Average Annual Wage
+2.6% YoY

Retail Trade in Mississippi Metro Areas

3 metro areas with retail trade data in Mississippi. Lower Metro Market Score = more favorable conditions.

Gulfport-Biloxi 34.2 #18/378 · 1,616 firms Jackson 34.9 #25/378 · 2,440 firms Hattiesburg 73.6 #358/378 · 669 firms

Mississippi vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric MS National Difference
Entry Risk Score 59.2 44.6 +14.6
5-Year Retention 19.6% 51.0% -31.4
Growth Momentum 33.3 42.9 -9.6
Market Volatility 7.8 24.4 -16.6
Establishment Density 82.5 49.0 +33.5
Wage Pressure 32.0 30.5 +1.5

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

Mississippi Ranks #51 of 51 for Retail Trade

Mississippi ranks #51 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
#51 Mississippi You 59.2 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

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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 Mississippi stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

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

Tennessee 42.8 #22/51 Alabama 46.4 #36/51 Arkansas 51.8 #44/51 Louisiana 52.3 #46/51

Other Industries in Mississippi

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 →