NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS

Metro Market Score 34.2 (Favorable), ranked #18 of 378 metros. 1,616 establishments, 19,361 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 34.2
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

📈Rapid Growth

Employment in Gulfport-Biloxi's retail trade sector grew faster than most metros last year, pushing its growth trend index to 93.9. Combined with a 34.2 market score, this metro sits in the top 10% for overall conditions.

Industry Concentration
69.3
LQ: 1.22
Rank #262 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
5.6
$32,814 avg wage
Growth Trend
93.9
Employment growth index
Rank #24 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
68.4
YoY wage change index

1,616 Retail Trade Firms in Gulfport-Biloxi

1,616
Establishments
+6.9% YoY
19,361
Total Employment
+4.7% YoY
$32,814
Average Annual Wage
+1.3% YoY
1.22
Location Quotient
Above national avg
Within Mississippi
#1 of 3
retail trade metros in state
Mississippi state rank
#51 of 51
for retail trade entry risk
vs State Median
-0.7
better than median (34.9)

Gulfport-Biloxi vs Mississippi Statewide

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

Measure Gulfport-Biloxi MS Statewide
Overall Score 34.2 Favorable 59.2 High
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #18 of 378 metros #51 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 Gulfport-Biloxi

Retail Trade in Other Mississippi Metros

Retail Trade Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Gulfport-Biloxi's 34.2 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Retail Trade in States Bordering Mississippi

State-level entry risk for retail trade in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Browse Retail Trade in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for retail trade across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

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 Gulfport-Biloxi's retail trade sector, the industry concentration component (69.3) 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.