NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Fayetteville, NC

Metro Market Score 63.5 (Difficult), ranked #292 of 378 metros. 1,168 establishments, 16,929 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 63.5
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

⚡Rising Wages

Retail Trade employment in Fayetteville contracted year-over-year, placing the growth trend in the bottom quartile at 18.0. Declining job counts can indicate consolidation, population shifts, or reduced local demand. Due diligence on the local economy is especially important here.

Industry Concentration
79.1
LQ: 1.28
Rank #299 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
19.6
$34,726 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 18.0
Employment growth index
Rank #311 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
71.0
YoY wage change index

1,168 Retail Trade Firms in Fayetteville

1,168
Establishments
-3.6% YoY
16,929
Total Employment
-2.2% YoY
$34,726
Average Annual Wage
+1.8% YoY
1.28
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville NC Statewide
Overall Score 63.5 Difficult 43.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #292 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 Fayetteville

Information 26.9 Finance and Insurance 43.0 Construction 49.2 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 52.5 Other Services 58.7 Accommodation and Food Services 60.0

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 Fayetteville's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (82.0) 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.