NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in New Hampshire: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 48.7 (Elevated), ranked #40 of 51 states. 5,770 establishments, 90,418 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 48.7
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

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

🛡️Stable Market

New Hampshire exhibits structural stability in retail trade, with volatility at 33.0 and firm retention ranking in the top 5. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
92.2%
Percentile within industry
Rank #5 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
16.2
Scale of 0-100
Rank #48 of 51 states
Establishment Density
83.0
vs. national average
Rank #46 of 51 states
Market Volatility
33.0
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
28.0
Labor cost pressure

5,770 Establishments in New Hampshire

5,770
Establishments
-0.1% YoY
90,418
Total Employment
+0.1% YoY
$44,502
Average Annual Wage
+2.3% YoY

New Hampshire vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric NH National Difference
Entry Risk Score 48.7 44.6 +4.1
5-Year Retention 92.2% 51.0% +41.2
Growth Momentum 16.2 42.9 -26.7
Market Volatility 33.0 24.4 +8.6
Establishment Density 83.0 49.0 +34.0
Wage Pressure 28.0 30.5 -2.5

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

New Hampshire Ranks #40 of 51 for Retail Trade

New Hampshire ranks #40 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
#40 New Hampshire You 48.7 elevated
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 New Hampshire stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How New Hampshire's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Massachusetts 37.1 #4/51 Maine 44.1 #29/51 Vermont 52.1 #45/51

Other Industries in New Hampshire

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 →