NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Utah: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 40.3 (Moderate), ranked #13 of 51 states. 11,094 establishments, 179,051 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 40.3
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

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

The retail trade sector in Utah 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
29.4%
Percentile within industry
Rank #37 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 100.0
Scale of 0-100
Rank #1 of 51 states
Establishment Density
45.7
vs. national average
Rank #24 of 51 states
Market Volatility
40.8
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
49.3
Labor cost pressure

11,094 Establishments in Utah

11,094
Establishments
+0.2% YoY
179,051
Total Employment
-1.0% YoY
$43,395
Average Annual Wage
+3.9% YoY

Utah vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric UT National Difference
Entry Risk Score 40.3 44.6 -4.3
5-Year Retention 29.4% 51.0% -21.6
Growth Momentum 100.0 42.9 +57.1
Market Volatility 40.8 24.4 +16.4
Establishment Density 45.7 49.0 -3.3
Wage Pressure 49.3 30.5 +18.8

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

Utah Ranks #13 of 51 for Retail Trade

Utah ranks #13 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
#13 Utah You 40.3 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 Utah stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

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

Nevada 37.0 #3/51 New Mexico 39.9 #11/51 Idaho 40.1 #12/51 Colorado 42.9 #23/51 Arizona 44.9 #32/51 Wyoming 44.9 #33/51

Other Industries in Utah

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 →