Wholesalers in 1997 had sales of $79 billion. Total retail sales in 1997 reached over $40 billion. Food stores accounted for 11% of establishments; automotive dealers, 12%; and eating and drinking establishments, 33%. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton area had retail sales over half of the state's total.
In 1998, exports of goods originating from the state had a value of $38 billion, 3rd in the United States. The leading exports were aircraft and aircraft parts (accounting for more than one-half of the total), machinery, lumber and logs, fish and fish products, grains, motor vehicles and parts, fruits and vegetables, wood pulp, and paper products. Principal imports included crude petroleum, lumber, natural gas, passenger cars, truck chassis and bodies, newsprint, aluminum oxide, motorcycles, radios, and television sets.