Costco Wholesale Corp. reported net sales of $18.42 billion for the retail month of August, up 5% year over year.The retailer also posted net sales for the first 52 weeks of its 53-week fiscal year ended August 27, which increased 4.6% to $232.95 billion versus the year-earlier period.
In August, comparable sales, without the effects of gas prices and foreign exchange volatility, increased 4.1%, with comps in the U.S. up 3.2%, comps in Canada up 7.5% and comps in other international markets up 5.4%. E-commerce comps slipped 2.2%, the company stated.
For the 52-week period, comparable sales, excluding gas and foreign exchange, were up 5.2% year over year with comps in the U.S. up 4.2%, comps in Canada up 8% and comps in other international markets up 7.9%, Costco maintained E-commerce comps slipped 4.9% in the period versus the year-earlier period..
Comp traffic was up 4.8% during August in the U.S., Costco noted in a conference call.
Costco’s strongest August U.S. regional comparable sales results were in the Southeast, Texas and the Midwest. Non Foods comps were down low single digits with automotive and tires segments posting the strongest results. Fresh Food comps were up middle single digits, while comps for Food and Sundries advanced in the high single digits.
