In 1997, Nebraska had 3,894 wholesale trade establishments, with sales of $40 billion, and annual payrolls totaling $1.34 billion.
Retail sales totaled $16.4 billion in 1997, from 11,286 establishments. Automotive dealers numbered 16% that year; food stores, 10%; and restaurants and bars, 30%. In 1997, Nebraska's retail establishments had total annual payrolls of $1.8 billion. Food sales totaled $3.3 billion, while general merchandise sales totaled $2 billion.
Nebraska's exports of goods produced within the state totaled $2.3 billion in 1999. Major export items included: food ($1 billion), electronic equipment ($201 million), agricultural crops ($193 million), transport equipment ($166 million), and chemicals ($116 million). The majority of exports went to Japan, Canada, and Mexico.