Retail Sales in Philadelphia Metropolitan Area are currently estimated to exceed $40 billion annually. The Philadelphia area ranked fourth nationally behind Los Angeles, Chicago and New York in total retail sales for 1992, the last year for which statistics are currently available. Retail sales in this metropolitan area have increased at a compound annual rate of 3.7 percent since 1987.

  Since 1990 many new shopping facilities have opened including The Shops at Liberty Place, Shops at the Bellvue, Boyds and Market Place East. Other retail areas include Jewelers' Row, Antique Row, The Gallery on Market Street East and Franklin Mills. Walnut Street, Rittenhouse Square and Manayunk provide diversified boutique shops.