Costco July Sales Up 8%,

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $4.02 billion for the four weeks ended July 31, 2005, an increase of 8% from $3.71 billion in the same four-week period of the prior fiscal year. This year's four-week period included 27 days of sales compared to 28 days for the comparable four-week period last year, reflecting the timing of the Fourth of July holiday. This calendar shift negatively impacted reported net sales and comparable sales by approximately 3-4%.

For the first 48 weeks of its 2005 fiscal year ended July 31, 2005, the company reported net sales of $47.78 billion, an increase of 10% from $43.51 billion during the similar 48-week period of the prior fiscal year.

Comparable sales for the 4-week and 48-week periods ended July 31, 2005, were as follows:

                             4 Weeks                 48 Weeks
                     ----------------------- -------------------------
US                              4%                       6%
International                  12%                      11%

Total Company                   5%                       7%
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