The Retail Trade Division added an additional 9,428 jobs and $476.7 million in wages in 1998. The average wage increased slower than aggregated private wages in Colorado at only 5.1 percent to $17,191.

The largest sector of the Retail Trade division based on the number of jobs is Eating and Drinking Places with 152,861, an increase of 2,461 from 1997. Surprisingly, there were only 36 more establishments on average than there were during the previous year because several large chains ceased operation in Colorado. There were 8,381 establishments on average in 1998.

The second largest sector under Retail Trade is Food Stores with 50,631 jobs and 2,002 establishments. Eighty-eight percent of these jobs were in the State's 1,176 Grocery Stores. Employment in Miscellaneous Food Stores has more than doubled to 1,585 jobs over the past five years. Miscellaneous Food Stores include Coffee, Vitamin, and Health Food Stores.

Automotive Dealers and Gasoline Service Stations employment increased by 891 jobs and 40 establishments to 39,219 and 2,946 respectively. The majority of the rise occurred within Gasoline Service Stations, which added 459 jobs and 26 establishments. New and Used Car Dealers added 256 jobs to average 16,840. The average wage at New and Used Car Dealers increased by 5.2 percent to $40,740.

General Merchandise Stores registered an increase of 996 jobs to average 41,511 in 1998 because of an increase of 1,058 jobs in Department Stores. This gain was partially offset by a decline of 108 jobs in Variety Stores to 865.

Growth in the Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply, and Mobile Home Dealers sector declined dramatically in 1998. The sector only added 325 jobs to average 17,685. This sector increased by an average of 1,350 jobs over the previous 5 years. The largest increase in jobs was in Lumber and Other Building Materials, which added 347 to average 11,663. Hardware stores employment increased by 47 to 2,918.

Growth within Home Furniture, Furnishing, and Equipment Stores was due to a 487 job increase at Furniture Stores and a 401 job increase at Miscellaneous Home Furnishings stores.

The Miscellaneous Retail sector added 1,740 jobs and 98 establishments to average 50,931 and 6,764 respectively. The largest increase in the Miscellaneous Retail sector occurred in Miscellaneous Retail, NEC which added 334 jobs to average 6,802. Other gains included Sporting Goods and Bicycle Shops, up 272 to 6,785 and Used Merchandise Stores, up 257 to 3,632.