Costco Wholesale Corp. reported net sales of $17.6 billion for fiscal July up 4.5% from the month a year earlier.
In a conference call, Costco noted that store traffic increased 6.4% in the U.S. versus July a year past.
By region, comps experienced the strongest growth in the Northeast, the Southeast and Texas. In terms of merchandise categories, nonfood comps slipped in the low single digits. Better performing segments were jewelry, tires and health and beauty. Food and Sundries advanced in the high single digits as did Fresh Food.
Costco operates 858 warehouse clubs including 590 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 107 in Canada, 40 in Mexico, 32 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 18 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, four each in China and Spain, two in France, and one each in Iceland, New Zealand and Sweden. Costco operates e-commerce websites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia
