Tamaqua's retail stores considered as a whole comprise a comparatively large industry, employing 540 people.

According to the 1954 Census of Retail Trade, Tamaqua's total retail sales amounted to $13,397,000 in that year. This compares very favorably with other communities in the five-county Anthracite region, including Mahanoy City, $9,858,000; Lehighton, $11,664,000; and Lansford, $7,437,000.