BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. August sales increased 6.4% to $661.7 million from $622.2 million in August 2006. On a comparable club basis, August sales increased by 1.4%, including a negative impact of 2.4% from sales of gasoline and a negative impact of 0.4% from the absence of pharmacy sales versus last year. In 2006, the company reported a comparable club sales increase of 2.3% for August, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 1.2%.


For the 30-week period ended September 1, 2007, total sales increased by 7.3% and comparable club sales increased by 2.8%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 0.6% and a negative impact from the absence of pharmacy sales versus last year of 0.4%.



The Company provided the following additional information regarding comparable club sales for August 2007:




  • Excluding the negative impact from gasoline and pharmacy, sales increased in all four weeks, with the highest increase in week one, driven primarily by strong sales of air conditioners. The lowest comp sales increase was in week three.


  • Excluding sales of gasoline, the average transaction amount increased by approximately 5%. A decrease in traffic of approximately 1% reflected last year's open house marketing event during the second half of the month.


  • Excluding the negative impact of gasoline and pharmacy, the largest sales increase was in the Metro New York region. All other regions showed positive sales increases except the Southeast which continued to experience a higher level of competition and self cannibalization than the other regions.


  • On a comparable club basis, food sales increased by approximately 5% and general merchandise sales increased by approximately 3%. Departments with strong sales increases versus last year included air conditioners, dairy, frozen, meat, milk, office supplies, soda & water, and televisions. Weaker departments versus last year included cigarettes, electronics, furniture, tires and toys.