NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Pennsylvania: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 38.1 (Moderate), ranked #6 of 51 states. 39,844 establishments, 589,435 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 38.1
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

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

🛡️Stable Market

Pennsylvania exhibits structural stability in retail trade, with volatility at 17.8 and firm retention ranking in the top 15. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
76.5%
Percentile within industry
Rank #13 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
23.0
Scale of 0-100
Rank #45 of 51 states
Establishment Density
30.4
vs. national average
Rank #13 of 51 states
Market Volatility
17.8
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
28.0
Labor cost pressure

39,844 Establishments in Pennsylvania

39,844
Establishments
-0.5% YoY
589,435
Total Employment
-1.0% YoY
$37,558
Average Annual Wage
+2.3% YoY

Pennsylvania vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric PA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 38.1 44.6 -6.5
5-Year Retention 76.5% 51.0% +25.5
Growth Momentum 23.0 42.9 -19.9
Market Volatility 17.8 24.4 -6.6
Establishment Density 30.4 49.0 -18.6
Wage Pressure 28.0 30.5 -2.5

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

Pennsylvania Ranks #6 of 51 for Retail Trade

Pennsylvania ranks #6 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
#6 Pennsylvania You 38.1 moderate
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 Pennsylvania stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How Pennsylvania's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Ohio 39.2 #8/51 Delaware 41.8 #19/51 Maryland 43.6 #26/51 New Jersey 43.7 #27/51 West Virginia 52.8 #47/51 New York 57.2 #49/51

Other Industries in Pennsylvania

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 →