Costco July Compas Jump 9%

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $3.72 billion for the four weeks ended August 1, 2004, an increase of 12 percent from $3.32 billion in the same four-week period of the prior fiscal year.

For the first 48 weeks of its 2004 fiscal year ended August 1,
2004, the Company reported net sales of $43.51 billion, an increase of
14 percent from $38.27 billion during the similar 48-week period of
the prior fiscal year.

Comparable sales for the 4-week and 48-week periods ended August
1, 2004, were as follows:

                                              4 Weeks      48 Weeks
                                           ------------- -------------
US                                              9%            10%
International                                   7%            15%

Total Company                                   9%            11%
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