NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in St. Louis, MO

Metro Market Score 47.5 (Moderate), ranked #105 of 378 metros. 8,077 establishments, 130,664 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 47.5
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

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

⚡Rising Wages🌱Emerging Market

Few retail trade firms have established themselves in St. Louis yet. The concentration index of 19.6 is well below the metro median, while employment growth is positive (trend: 60.0). That combination points to a market still building out.

Industry Concentration
19.6
LQ: 0.99
Rank #74 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
66.1
$39,529 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 60.0
Employment growth index
Rank #152 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
70.5
YoY wage change index

8,077 Retail Trade Firms in St. Louis

8,077
Establishments
-1.0% YoY
130,664
Total Employment
+0.0% YoY
$39,529
Average Annual Wage
+1.7% YoY
0.99
Location Quotient
Below national avg

St. Louis vs Missouri Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Missouri overall. The state ranks #42/51 for entry risk.

Measure St. Louis MO Statewide
Overall Score 47.5 Moderate 50.6 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #105 of 378 metros #42 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 St. Louis

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 61.3 Finance and Insurance 74.2

Retail Trade in Other Missouri Metros

Columbia 32.6 #13/378 Joplin 37.4 #34/378 St. Joseph 41.3 #54/378 Springfield 48.1 #112/378 Kansas City 48.9 #120/378 Jefferson City 51.7 #159/378 Cape Girardeau 66.9 #320/378

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 St. Louis's retail trade sector, the wage competitiveness component (66.1) 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.