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Retail Trade in the US Industry Data and Analysis
The Retail Trade sector entered 2025 on a muted footing, with revenue growth of just 0.2% to reach $7.4 trillion. E-commerce remains a bright spot, with steady mid-single-digit gains in recent years, boosted by younger consumers' strong preference for digital channels. Yet, the sector's gains in digital shopping are balanced by ongoing challenges in discretionary spending, high operating costs and tariffs that threaten earnings. Profit has been pressured by steep price competition online and inflation-related expenses, though essential retailers in sub-sectors like food and health have managed steadier performance. Current efforts around omnichannel strategies, technology-driven efficiencies and sustainability reflect the sector's dual focus: capturing digital momentum while offsetting erosion in traditional store-based sales.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Retail Trade industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released September 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Retail Trade industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 44-45. The retail trade sector is the final step in merchandise distribution and includes retailers operating brick-and-mortar locations and e-commerce platforms. Merchandise sold by retailers is purchased from suppliers and is then sold to consumers through the retailers’ stores or other mediums. This sector excludes the physical manufacture of merchandise and businesses that primarily trade as wholesalers. Related terms covered in the Retail Trade industry in the United States include point-of-sale system , homogeneous goods, radio-frequency identification and mass merchandiser.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Retail Trade industry in the United States include Motor vehicle and parts dealers, General merchandise stores and Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Retail Trade industry in the United States include Walmart Inc.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Retail Trade industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Retail Trade industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Retail Trade industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Retail Trade industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Retail Trade industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Retail Trade industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Retail Trade industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Retail Trade industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Retail Trade industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Retail Trade industry in the United States is $7.4tr in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Retail Trade industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 3m businesses in the Retail Trade industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Retail Trade industry in the United States?
The Retail Trade industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Retail Trade industry in the United States?
The Retail Trade industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Retail Trade industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Retail Trade industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Retail Trade industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Retail Trade industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Retail Trade industry in the United States?
The biggest company operating in the Retail Trade industry in the United States is Walmart Inc.
What does the Retail Trade industry in the United States include?
Motor vehicle and parts dealers and Furniture and home furnishings stores are part of the Retail Trade industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Retail Trade industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Retail Trade industry in the United States is Walmart Inc..
How competitive is the Retail Trade industry in the United States?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Retail Trade industry in the United States.
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