BJ's Wholesale Club sales for the month of July 2005 increased by 9.3% to $582.3 million from $532.6 million in July 2004. On a comparable club basis, sales increased by 4.7% in July, including a positive impact from sales of gasoline of approximately 1.4%. Last year the Company reported a comparable club sales increase of 6.4% for July, including a positive impact from sales of gasoline of 2.1%.

For the second quarter ended July 30, 2005, total sales increased by 7.7% and comparable club sales increased by 3.2%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 0.4%. For the twenty-six week period ended July 30, 2005, total sales increased by 8.7% and comparable club sales increased by 4.4%, including a contribution from gasoline sales of 0.5%

BJ's president and chief executive officer, Mike Wedge said, “Sales results for the month of July reflected hotter weather throughout most of the chain versus last year. On a comparable club basis, food sales increased by approximately 5% driven primarily by double digit sales increases of beverages, paper products, prepared foods and produce. In general merchandise, high double digit sales increases of air conditioners as well as strong sales of electronics, lawn and garden, summer seasonal, televisions and a new Harry Potter book were offset by lower year-over-year sales of computer equipment, film, furniture, sporting goods and videogame hardware and software. As a result, comparable club sales of general merchandise were essentially flat versus last year.” 

                Sales Results for July
                  ($ in thousands)
Four Weeks Ended                         % Change
  July 30,       July 31,            Net        Comp.
   2005           2004              Sales       Sales
$  582,297     $  532,629            9.3 %      4.7%

Twenty-Six Weeks Ended                   % Change
  July 30,      July 31,             Net        Comp.
   2005          2004               Sales       Sales
$3,750,747    $3,450,946             8.7%       4.4%

The Company provided the following additional information regarding July sales:

On a comparable club basis, for the month of July as well as for the second quarter, traffic was essentially flat to last year and the average transaction amount increased by approximately 3%. These calculations exclude sales of gasoline.

Comparable club sales were positive in all major geographic regions, with the highest sales increase in the Southeast. Over the four week period, comparable club sales increases ranged from a high of 6.4% in week two to a low of 3.5% in week four.