From booming e-commerce sales reaching $9.2 billion to the Magnificent Mile's impressive $2.8 billion rebound, Chicago's retail landscape is roaring back to life with a dynamic mix of tradition and innovation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, total retail sales in Chicago reached $48.7 billion, marking a 4.2% increase from 2021 driven by post-pandemic recovery in apparel and electronics sectors
- Chicago's general merchandise stores generated $12.3 billion in sales in 2023, accounting for 25% of total retail revenue with Walmart and Target leading
- Food and beverage store sales in Chicago totaled $15.8 billion in 2022, up 6.1% year-over-year due to inflation and grocery demand
- Chicago retail employment totaled 245,000 jobs in 2023, representing 8.2% of total city employment with 2.1% growth
- Retail salespersons in Chicago numbered 78,500 in 2022, median wage $32,400 annually
- Chicago first-line retail supervisors employed 28,900 in 2023, average salary $52,100
- Retail establishments in Chicago totaled 18,450 in 2023, up 1.8% from 2022 per County Business Patterns
- Chicago grocery stores numbered 2,180 in 2022, concentrated in North Side with 45%
- Apparel and accessory stores in Chicago: 1,920 outlets in 2023, 32% independents
- Consumer spending on groceries in Chicago averaged $5,800 per household annually in 2022, up 7.5% from inflation
- Chicago apparel spending per capita $1,420 in 2023, millennials highest at $1,800
- Average household electronics spend Chicago $950 in 2022, online 55%
- Chicago retail sales projected to grow 4.8% annually to $58.2 billion by 2027 per Moody's
- Chicago retail employment forecast +2.5% yearly to 265,000 jobs by 2028 BLS projection
- E-commerce share in Chicago retail expected 32% by 2025, adding $15B sales Statista
Chicago retail grows with e-commerce rising and grocery sales leading recovery.
Consumer Spending Patterns
- Consumer spending on groceries in Chicago averaged $5,800 per household annually in 2022, up 7.5% from inflation
- Chicago apparel spending per capita $1,420 in 2023, millennials highest at $1,800
- Average household electronics spend Chicago $950 in 2022, online 55%
- Chicago grocery spending share of income 12.4% in 2023, above national 10.8%
- Per capita auto retail spend Chicago $2,100 in 2022, used cars 60%
- Health/beauty product spending Chicago households $780 yearly 2023
- Chicago home furnishings spend $1,200 per household 2022, up 9% renovations
- Dining-related retail spend Chicago $2,400 per capita 2023, takeout 40%
- Chicago luxury goods spending $450 per affluent household monthly 2022
- Holiday retail spending Chicago households averaged $1,100 in 2022, gifts 70%
- Chicago thrift/resale spending $320 per household 2023, Gen Z leads 45%
- Convenience store spend Chicago $890 yearly per capita 2022, snacks 35%
- Sporting goods spend Chicago $420 per household 2023, fitness boom
- Book purchases Chicago average $150 annually per adult 2022, e-books 28%
- Gasoline retail spend Chicago $1,650 per driver yearly 2023, EV shift 5%
- Downtown Chicago daily retail spend per visitor $85 in 2022, shopping 40%
- South Side consumer grocery spend 11% higher than average 2023 density
- Online retail spend Chicago 24% of total $2,800 per household 2022
- Magnificent Mile tourist spend $1,200 average per trip 2023, luxury 55%
- Chicago millennial retail spend $4,500 yearly 2022, experiences 30%
- Gen Z Chicago impulse buys $280 monthly retail 2023 social media driven
- Hispanic consumer spend Chicago groceries $6,200 household avg 2022
- African American spend apparel Chicago $1,650 per capita 2023
- Elderly retail spend Chicago $3,200 yearly 2022, pharmacy 25%
Consumer Spending Patterns Interpretation
Chicago's retail story is one where groceries pinch wallets, millennials dress with purpose, online carts silently fill, and every generation, from thrifty Gen Z to pharmacy-reliant seniors, is navigating a landscape where convenience and experience are king, proving the city's market is as diverse and dynamic as its neighborhoods.
Employment and Workforce Data
- Chicago retail employment totaled 245,000 jobs in 2023, representing 8.2% of total city employment with 2.1% growth
- Retail salespersons in Chicago numbered 78,500 in 2022, median wage $32,400 annually
- Chicago first-line retail supervisors employed 28,900 in 2023, average salary $52,100
- Cashiers in Chicago retail sector: 45,200 jobs in 2022, hourly wage $14.50 median
- Retail stock clerks in Chicago: 32,100 employed in 2023, wage $16.20 per hour average
- Chicago retail managers total 15,400 in 2022, earning $68,700 median annually
- Customer service reps in Chicago retail: 18,700 jobs 2023, salary $38,900 average
- Chicago grocery store employment: 92,000 in 2022, 3.4% of retail workforce
- Apparel retail workers in Chicago: 22,500 in 2023, down 1.2% from peak
- Chicago auto dealership employees: 28,300 in 2022, wages averaged $55,200
- Retail delivery drivers in Chicago: 12,400 in 2023, hourly $19.80 median
- Chicago pharmacy retail staff: 14,200 in 2022, growth 4.1% yearly
- Home improvement retail workers Chicago: 9,800 in 2023, salary $42,500 avg
- Electronics retail employment Chicago: 11,500 in 2022, 2.8% decline due to online shift
- Chicago luxury retail sales associates: 4,200 jobs 2023, high wage $48,000 median
- Retail part-time workers in Chicago: 112,000 in 2022, 46% of total retail jobs
- Female employment in Chicago retail: 52% or 127,400 in 2023
- Minority workers in Chicago retail: 68% in 2022, highest in cashier roles at 75%
- Chicago retail veteran employment: 8,500 jobs in 2023, 3.5% of workforce
- Unionized retail workers Chicago: 18,200 in 2022, mainly grocery at UFCW
- Retail job openings Chicago averaged 15,200 monthly in 2023
- Chicago retail turnover rate 42% annually in 2022, highest in food service retail
- Average retail work hours Chicago 29.5 weekly in 2023 part-timers
- Chicago retail training hours average 28 annually per employee 2022
- Downtown Chicago retail jobs: 45,000 in 2023, 18% of total
- South Side retail employment 22,100 in 2022, growth 2.7%
- Magnificent Mile retail staff 12,500 in 2023, wages $22/hour avg
- Chicago retail gig economy workers 9,300 in 2022 via apps
Employment and Workforce Data Interpretation
Chicago retail stands as a city of starkly tiered fortunes, where managers and car salespeople enjoy a comfortable salary while the vast army of cashiers and part-timers, who make up nearly half the workforce and endure a dizzying 42% turnover, struggle on hourly wages that haven't gotten the memo about the Magnificent Mile.
Growth Projections and Trends
- Chicago retail sales projected to grow 4.8% annually to $58.2 billion by 2027 per Moody's
- Chicago retail employment forecast +2.5% yearly to 265,000 jobs by 2028 BLS projection
- E-commerce share in Chicago retail expected 32% by 2025, adding $15B sales Statista
- Grocery retail growth Chicago 3.2% CAGR to 2030 driven by urban density Nielsen
- Apparel retail recovery Chicago +6.1% annual to 2026 post-pandemic McKinsey
- Chicago luxury retail projected $2.5B by 2025, international tourists Bain & Co
- EV charging retail stations Chicago to triple to 1,500 by 2027 DOE forecast
- Health retail Chicago growth 5.4% to 2030 aging population Walgreens report
- Home improvement retail Chicago +4.9% CAGR to $3.2B by 2028 Home Depot
- Downtown retail vacancy to drop to 8% by 2025 Cushman & Wakefield
- Chicago thrift retail market to grow 12% yearly to $1B by 2026 ThredUp
- Magnificent Mile sales rebound 7% annual to $3.5B by 2027 CBRE
- South Side retail investment $1.2B projected 2024-2028 city plan
- Chicago pop-up retail to 300 locations yearly by 2026 ICSC trend
- Retail tech adoption Chicago 45% stores by 2025 AI analytics Deloitte
- Grocery delivery spend Chicago to $4.5B by 2027 Instacart forecast
- Chicago sustainable retail sales +15% CAGR to 2030 NielsenIQ
- Auto retail shift to online Chicago 40% sales by 2026 Cox Automotive
- Electronics retail Chicago stabilization +2.8% to 2028 GfK report
- Chicago retail square footage demand +3.1% yearly to 2027 JLL
- Hispanic consumer retail spend Chicago +5.7% annual to 2030 Nielsen
- Gen Z retail influence Chicago 28% market by 2028 Euromonitor
- Chicago omnichannel retail penetration 65% by 2025 PwC survey
Growth Projections and Trends Interpretation
While e-commerce carves a permanent and growing slice of the pie, Chicago's brick-and-mortar retail future is looking robustly hybrid, as the city's diverse neighborhoods and evolving consumer demands fuel a simultaneous rebound in everything from luxury flagships on the Magnificent Mile and grocery stores in dense urban cores to thrift shops and pop-up experiences, all increasingly supported by retail tech and omnichannel strategies.
Number of Establishments and Locations
- Retail establishments in Chicago totaled 18,450 in 2023, up 1.8% from 2022 per County Business Patterns
- Chicago grocery stores numbered 2,180 in 2022, concentrated in North Side with 45%
- Apparel and accessory stores in Chicago: 1,920 outlets in 2023, 32% independents
- Chicago motor vehicle dealers: 1,250 establishments in 2022, 60% used car lots
- Health/personal care stores Chicago: 1,410 in 2023, CVS/Walgreens dominate 55%
- Furniture/home furnishings stores Chicago: 780 in 2022, growth in suburbs 12%
- Electronics/appliance stores Chicago: 650 in 2023, Best Buy chains 40%
- General merchandise stores Chicago: 420 mega-stores in 2022, Walmart/Target 70%
- Gasoline stations Chicago: 1,890 in 2023, highest density in West Side
- Food specialty stores Chicago: 890 in 2022, ethnic markets 65%
- Sporting goods/hobby stores Chicago: 560 in 2023, Dick's Sporting 25%
- Book/musical instrument stores Chicago: 340 in 2022, independents 72%
- Florists Chicago: 450 in 2023, urban clusters 80%
- Office supply stores Chicago: 210 in 2022, Staples/Office Depot 60%
- Used merchandise stores Chicago: 620 thrift shops in 2023, Goodwill 35%
- Mall-based retail Chicago: 28 major malls in 2022, 4,200 stores total
- Standalone big box stores Chicago: 1,120 in 2023, suburbs host 68%
- Downtown Chicago retail storefronts: 3,450 active in 2022, vacancy 12%
- Magnificent Mile stores: 420 luxury brands in 2023, down 5% from 2019
- O'Hare airport retail outlets: 185 in 2022, concessions $500M sales
- South Side neighborhood stores: 2,100 in 2023, 40% convenience
- Wicker Park boutiques: 280 in 2022, 85% independent
- Chicago pop-up retail locations: 150 temporary in 2023, holiday peaks
- Ethnic enclave stores Chicago: 1,250 in 2022, Devon Ave 200+
- Online-only retail HQs Chicago: 45 firms in 2023, employing 5,200
- Vacant retail spaces Chicago: 2,800 in 2022, 15% rate citywide
- New retail openings Chicago 420 in 2023, grocery-led 35%
- Chicago average retail store size 4,200 sq ft in 2022, big box 50,000+
Number of Establishments and Locations Interpretation
Chicago is a city where, statistically speaking, you're statistically more likely to find a used car lot than a new one, a CVS than a local pharmacy, a thrift shop than a full-price department store, and an ethnic market than a generic one, all while the big boxes bloom in the suburbs and downtown wonders where everyone went.
Revenue and Sales Statistics
- In 2022, total retail sales in Chicago reached $48.7 billion, marking a 4.2% increase from 2021 driven by post-pandemic recovery in apparel and electronics sectors
- Chicago's general merchandise stores generated $12.3 billion in sales in 2023, accounting for 25% of total retail revenue with Walmart and Target leading
- Food and beverage store sales in Chicago totaled $15.8 billion in 2022, up 6.1% year-over-year due to inflation and grocery demand
- Chicago's motor vehicle and parts dealers reported $8.9 billion in sales for 2022, a 3.8% rise fueled by used car market surge
- Health and personal care stores in Chicago achieved $4.2 billion in 2022 sales, growing 5.5% amid wellness trends
- Chicago furniture and home furnishings stores sales hit $2.1 billion in 2023, reflecting 7.2% growth from housing market activity
- Electronics and appliance store sales in Chicago were $3.4 billion in 2022, up 4.9% due to remote work tech demand
- Chicago's sporting goods, hobby, and book stores generated $1.8 billion in 2022, a 6.3% increase post-lockdown
- Gasoline stations in Chicago sold $6.5 billion worth in 2022, fluctuating with oil prices up 12.4%
- Chicago nonstore retailers e-commerce sales reached $9.2 billion in 2022, surging 15.7% year-over-year
- Clothing and accessories stores in Chicago totaled $5.6 billion in sales for 2023, recovering 8.1% from pandemic lows
- Chicago's building material and garden equipment sales were $2.7 billion in 2022, up 5.9% with home improvement boom
- Miscellaneous store retailers in Chicago generated $1.1 billion in 2022, growing 4.5% steadily
- Chicago retail trade sales tax revenue was $1.4 billion in FY2022, supporting city budget significantly
- Downtown Chicago retail sales per square foot averaged $1,200 in 2022, highest in apparel segment at $1,500
- Chicago's Magnificent Mile generated $2.8 billion in retail sales in 2022, rebounding 10% from 2021
- O'Hare-adjacent retail sales totaled $1.2 billion in 2023, boosted by airport traffic recovery
- Chicago South Loop retail sales grew to $850 million in 2022, with grocery anchors driving 7%
- Wicker Park neighborhood retail sales hit $450 million in 2023, indie shops up 12%
- Chicago's e-commerce retail penetration reached 22% of total sales in 2022 at $10.7 billion
- Luxury retail sales in Gold Coast Chicago were $1.9 billion in 2022, up 9.4%
- Chicago grocery retail sales per capita stood at $4,200 in 2022, highest in Midwest
- Apparel retail sales in Chicago's Loop district totaled $320 million in 2023, recovering 11%
- Chicago auto retail financing sales volume was $7.2 billion in 2022, up 5.2%
- Pharmacy retail sales in Chicago reached $3.1 billion in 2022, growing 6.8% with prescriptions
- Chicago home goods retail sales surged 8.3% to $2.4 billion in 2023 amid renovations
- Electronics retail sales tax collections in Chicago were $280 million in FY2022
- Chicago's thrift and resale retail sales hit $650 million in 2022, up 14% sustainability trend
- Neighborhood convenience store sales in Chicago totaled $1.5 billion in 2023, steady 3.1% growth
- Chicago retail holiday sales peaked at $12.4 billion in Q4 2022, 5.7% over prior year
Revenue and Sales Statistics Interpretation
Chicago's retail scene is booming like a well-stocked warehouse after a Black Friday rush, where everyone from the gas station attendant to the Gold Coast luxury shopper is spending heavily, proving that whether it's for groceries, gadgets, or glitz, the Windy City’s economy runs on the stubborn optimism of people buying stuff they need and stuff they decidedly don't.
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