Shoppers at a Cape Girardeau retail store can keep tabs on their bills as they fill up the shopping cart.

Wal-Mart's Supercenter offers customers "Shoppers' Calculators," solar-powered calculations attached to the handlebars of shopping carts.

Customers like to see how much they're spending, say Wal-Mart officials. The calculator does this, and more.

Customers can also use the calculators to calculate food contents -- calories, cholesterol, fats, salt, etc. And they can compare product values.

In recent surveys conducted by Wal-Mart, more than half the shoppers interviewed used the calculators, and most say they found it useful.

The calculators are marketed and distributed by Advantage Media Group Inc., headquartered at Tulsa, Okla.

Meanwhile, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., headquartered in Bentonville, Ark., is giving up its photo-finishing plants and accompanying distribution network.

Wal-Mart has announced that it is selling six photo-finish plants to Fuji Photo Film U.S.A.

No terms were disclosed, but analysts estimated the value of the deal at between $500 million and $600 million.

Wal-Mart emphasized, however, that the sale does not affect the one-hour photo lab operations inside Wal-Mart stores and Supercenters.

Wal-Mart put the operations up for bid after deciding to concentrate on its core retailing base.

Illinois, Missouri in

international marketplaces

Illinois exports outpaced the nation in 1995.

Led by exports of industrial machinery and computer equipment, the state reached a record high of $32.6 billion in exports, up 23.6 percent from 1994.

Nationally, exports increased 13.8 percent.

In Missouri, exports exceeded estimates, topping the $6 billion mark for the first time in the state's history, up from about $5 billion in 1994.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra, who oversees economic growth and job creation initiatives for Gov. Jim Edgar, said the demand for Illinois-made products is at an all-time high.

There appears to be no letup in Illinois exports. In the latest statistics, the state's exports were up $500 million during the first quarter, at $8.5 billion, compared to $8 billion during the 1995 first quarter.

In addition to industrial machinery, computers and transportation equipment, Illinois crops and food products are being shipped overseas in record numbers.

Exports are "a powerhouse in Illinois' economic engine," said Edgar. "As trade barriers around the world continue to fall, my administration is committed to helping companies develop their export potential."

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) operates five International Trade Centers and two North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Opportunity Centers, devoted to programs that assist companies in penetrating foreign markets, and Illinois operates six foreign offices to achieve that goal.

Illinois fifth in exporting

Illinois ranks fifth nationally among exporting states.

Canada is the No. 1 trading partner for Illinois. Trade with Canada increased 9.8 percent in 1995, to reach a record $6.9 billion. Japan continued as the state's second largest trading partner, registering a 38.4 percent increase to $3 billion.

Illinois' other leading trading partners last year were the United Kingdom, up 25.3 percent to $1.7 billion; Germany, up 21.5 percent to 1.6 billion; and Mexico, $1.6 billion, despite a decrease in 1995.

Industrial machinery, computer equipment and other electronic and electric equipment account for almost half of Illinois' exports of $15.3 billion.

Industrial machinery and computers are grouped into one category with exports of $8.2 billion, said Alex St. John of the Illinois Bureau of Business Development, International Business Division.

Electronic machinery other than computers, accounted for $7.1 billion, said St. John. Chemicals and allied products total more than $1.1 billion, and farm production products total more than $616 million in exports.

The importance of exporting is significant in a number of ways to the state's economy. Statistics reveal that one in eight Illinois jobs is dependent on exports. And every dollar of Illinois exports generates 4 cents of state tax revenue.

Exports important to Missouri

In Missouri, more than 2,100 businesses exported a total of $6.1 billion in products and services to 176 countries in 1995.

Exports play a vital role in Missouri's economic development by creating jobs, enhancing business retention and expansion, said Joseph L. Driskill, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).

Missouri exports support more than 139,000 jobs.

Chemicals, agricultural commodities, industry machinery, transportation equipment, electronic equipment and components dominate Missouri exports.

Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Japan and the United Kingdom were the biggest markets, accounting for 52 percent of export revenue.

Driskill and DED assists Missouri companies in exporting products to overseas markets. DED's international trade specialists were in contact with more than 200 international companies at 24 trade shows, resulted in more than 3,000 leads for Missouri companies.

DED offers small and medium-sized business participation in trade exhibitions, catalog shows, foreign buying missions and foreign purchasing groups who visit the United States each year.

Each year a Missouri company is selected "Missouri Exporter of the Year." A Fayette company, Addison Biological Laboratory Inc., received the latest export award, presented during the 38th annual Governor's Economic Development Conference at Springfield.

The Addison company exports animal health products to 10 countries, including Canada, Japan, The Netherlands, Taiwan and Australia.

Catching up on business

When will K's Merchandise open?

What is Gold's Gym?

Where will the new 20-cine theater be in Cape West Business Park.

When will Tamms Bank open its Cape Girardeau facility?

What is Shoe Carnival?

Where will the new Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield processing center be?

When will new ownership of a downtown business be announced?

We'll be looking for answers to these and other business questions in next week's column.

B. Ray Owen is the business editor of the Southeast Missourian.