Abstract: The study describes the main facts of trade development in the Russian Federation, the result of which proved the importance of this industry to the economy of the country as a whole. The main trends of the development of the trade industry are analyzed, the obtained results are noted and the main problems are shown in the study. Taking into account the results of the analysis as well as socio-economic and external economic realities of the development of the country the main directions of the development of the trade industry were defined.