Individual and institutional customers as opposed to dealers and brokers. The New York Times Financial Glossary
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▪ I. retail re‧tail 1 [ˈriːteɪl] noun [uncountable] COMMERCE
1. the sale of goods to customers for their own use, rather than to shops etc:
• His experience in retail includes managing a number of shopping centres in New Zealand.
• The Potato Marketing Board determines the size range of potatoes which can be offered for retail.
— compare wholesale1
2. retail trade/market/business etc the selling of goods or services to members of the public, or companies involved in this:
• Anyone working in the retail trade will often have to deal with customers who want to exchange or return goods.
3. retail shop/outlet/store etc a shop etc that is open to members of the public:
• These large retail outlets stock a wide range of goods.
4. retail banking/brokerage banking or investment services available to members of the public, rather than to businesses or companies
5. retail customer/consumer etc an individual customer etc, rather than a business or company:
• The scheme relates to all new cars sold to retail customers.
[m0]
▪ II. retail retail 3 adverb COMMERCE
if something is sold retail, it is sold to members of the public, usually in a shop:
• We only deal with wholesalers - we don't sell any of our goods retail.
[m0]
▪ III. retail retail 2 verb COMMERCE
1. [intransitive] to be sold to the public, usually in shops, for a particular price:
retail for/at
• The doll will retail for about £36.
2. [transitive] to sell goods in small quantities to members of the public, usually in a shop:
• The product is not being retailed through the right kind of outlets.
— retailing noun [uncountable] :
• The losses reflect the company's continuing problems in retailing.
• a weak period for the retailing sector
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Ⅰ.
retail UK US /ˈriːteɪl/ noun [U] COMMERCE
► »
She has worked in retail her entire adult life.
»
Organic food is one of the largest growth areas in food in the UK in retail.
»
Food retail is extremely competitive.
Ⅱ.
retail UK US /ˈriːteɪl/ adjective COMMERCE
► »
retail demand/operations/profits
»
The company needs to focus on its core retail business.
Ⅲ.
retail UK US /ˈriːteɪl/ verb COMMERCE
► [
T] »
They have a proven record in retailing clothes and shoes.
Ⅳ.
retail UK US /ˈriːteɪl/ adverb COMMERCE
► buy/sell retail »
It's much cheaper to buy wholesale than retail.