NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Asheville, NC

Metro Market Score 72.8 (Difficult), ranked #353 of 378 metros. 1,854 establishments, 23,422 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 72.8
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

Asheville's retail trade sector saw employment decline over the past year (growth trend: 2.4). That contraction, combined with a 72.8 market score, puts this metro in the bottom 10% for market conditions. Understand why the local market is shrinking before committing.

Industry Concentration
75.9
LQ: 1.27
Rank #287 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
47.6
$37,451 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 2.4
Employment growth index
Rank #370 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
63.2
YoY wage change index

1,854 Retail Trade Firms in Asheville

1,854
Establishments
-11.8% YoY
23,422
Total Employment
-12.8% YoY
$37,451
Average Annual Wage
+0.3% YoY
1.27
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Asheville vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #25/51 for entry risk.

Measure Asheville NC Statewide
Overall Score 72.8 Difficult 43.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #353 of 378 metros #25 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 Asheville

Construction 56.7 Finance and Insurance 59.2 Information 64.8 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 65.0 Other Services 75.1 Accommodation and Food Services 85.4

Retail Trade in Other North Carolina Metros

Durham-Chapel Hill 40.3 #51/378 Wilmington 42.4 #61/378 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 42.7 #65/378 Raleigh-Cary 44.4 #78/378 Goldsboro 45.0 #83/378 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 47.0 #99/378 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 50.4 #146/378 Rocky Mount 56.1 #210/378 Greensboro-High Point 56.3 #212/378 Winston-Salem 60.3 #256/378

+ 4 more metros. View all in North Carolina →

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 Asheville's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (97.6) 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.