NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in North Carolina: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 43.4 (Elevated), ranked #25 of 51 states. 38,080 establishments, 524,832 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 43.4
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

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

The retail trade sector in North Carolina is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
33.3%
Percentile within industry
Rank #35 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 52.3
Scale of 0-100
Rank #16 of 51 states
Establishment Density
57.7
vs. national average
Rank #35 of 51 states
Market Volatility
7.3
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
14.7
Labor cost pressure

38,080 Establishments in North Carolina

38,080
Establishments
-0.8% YoY
524,832
Total Employment
+0.1% YoY
$39,105
Average Annual Wage
+1.3% YoY

North Carolina vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric NC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 43.4 44.6 -1.2
5-Year Retention 33.3% 51.0% -17.7
Growth Momentum 52.3 42.9 +9.4
Market Volatility 7.3 24.4 -17.1
Establishment Density 57.7 49.0 +8.7
Wage Pressure 14.7 30.5 -15.8

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

North Carolina Ranks #25 of 51 for Retail Trade

North Carolina ranks #25 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
#25 North Carolina You 43.4 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 North Carolina stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How North Carolina's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Virginia 41.6 #17/51 Tennessee 42.8 #22/51 South Carolina 44.3 #30/51 Georgia 47.5 #38/51

Other Industries in North Carolina

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 →