2007 Kansas Economic Report

Industries in Focus: Retail Trade

The retail trade industry includes stores involved in the retail sale of a variety of items such
as: motor vehicles and parts, furniture and home furnishings, electronics and appliances,
building materials and garden equipment and supplies, food and beverages, health and
personal care items, gasoline, clothing and accessories, sporting goods, hobbies, books
and music. It also includes general merchandise and miscellaneous stores, as well as
nonstore retailers such as electronic and mail-order shopping, vending machine operators
and direct selling establishments.

Figure 32
Retail Trade
Percentage of Total
Kansas and U.S.
2006
14.0%

12.0%
U.S. Kansas
10.0%

8.0%
Percent

6.0%

4.0%

2.0%

0.0%
Establishments Employment Annual Wages Paid
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Market Information Services, Kansas Department of Labor

This industry has been experiencing a decline in This industry has been
employment for the past several years in Kansas, experiencing a decline
dropping from about 157,010 in 2001 to in employment for the
148,890 in 2006. This is a drop of past several years in
approximately 8,120 or 5.2 percent. The Kansas, dropping from
about 157,010 in 2001 to
largest decrease was in the food and beverage stores
148,890 in 2006. This is
sub-sector which lost over 2,500 jobs. In 2006, retail
a drop of approximately
trade accounted for 11.2 percent of the total employment 8,120 or 5.2 percent.
in Kansas, slightly below 11.5 percent nationally.

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 2007 Kansas Economic Report

The number of establishments in retail trade has also been declining in recent years,
dropping from 11,424 in 2001 to 10,551 in 2006, a decline of 873 or 7.6 percent. Despite
this, retail trade establishments represented approximately 12.5 percent of the total
establishments in Kansas in 2006 compared to 11.9 percent nationally.

This industry paid out wages of approximately $3.3 billion in 2006, representing about 7.0
percent of all wages paid in Kansas. The 2006 average annual wage in this
industry was $22,326, below the statewide average wage of $35,699. As with the
accommodation and food service industry, although to a lesser extent, the average annual
retail wage may also be affected by the number of jobs that are entry level and/or part time.

Figure 33
Retail Trade
Employment Growth
Kansas and U.S.
1.5% 158,000

Kansas Employment
1.0% U.S. 156,000
(right scale)

Employment
Percent Change

0.5% 154,000

0.0% 152,000

-0.5% 150,000

-1.0% 148,000
Kansas
-1.5% 146,000

-2.0% 144,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Year
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Market Information Services, Kansas Department of Labor

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