Costco October Comps Soar 11%

Costco Wholesale Corporation net sales are $3.42 billion for the four weeks ended November 2, 2003, an increase of 14 percent from $3.01 billion in the same four-week period of the prior fiscal year.

For the first 9 weeks of its 2004 fiscal year ended November 2, 2003, the Company reported net sales of $7.49 billion, an increase of 13 percent from $6.60 billion during the similar 9-week period of the prior fiscal year.

Comparable sales for the 4-week and 9-week periods ended November 2, 2003, were as follows:

                          4 Weeks    9 Weeks
                          -------    -------
US                           8%         9%
International               23%        20%

Total Company               11%        10%
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