BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (NYSE: BJ – News) today reported that sales for May 2010 increased by 11.3% to $871.9 million, from $783.4 million in May 2009. Comparable club sales for May 2010 increased by 6.8%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 3.3%. Excluding gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 3.5%.
For May 2009, the Company reported a comparable club sales decrease of 6.8%, including a negative impact from gasoline sales of 10.8%. Excluding gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 4.0%.
Four Weeks Ended | Seventeen Weeks Ended May 29, 2010 | |||||
| Comparable club sales | 6.8% | 7.5% | ||||
| Impact of gasoline sales | (3.3%) | (3.5%) | ||||
| Merchandise comparable club sales | 3.5% | 4.0% |
Sales Results for May 2010 | |||||||||||
($ in thousands) | |||||||||||
Four Weeks Ended | % Change | ||||||||||
May 29, | May 30, | Net | Comp. | ||||||||
$ | 871,852 | $ | 783,372 | 11.3% | 6.8% | ||||||
Seventeen Weeks Ended | % Change | ||||||||||
May 29, | May 30, | Net | Comp. | ||||||||
$ | 3,420,812 | $ | 3,041,969 | 12.5% | 7.5% | ||||||
Sales increased in weeks one, two and four, with the highest increase in week four. Sales decreased in week three. A calendar shift in the timing of Memorial Day unfavorably affected week three and benefitted week four.
Sales increased in all regions with the largest increase in the Southeast and the smallest increase in Metro New York.
Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased by approximately 4% versus last year and the average transaction amount decreased slightly.
Sales of food increased by approximately 6% and general merchandise sales decreased slightly.
Departments with the strongest sales increases compared to last year included air conditioners, bakery, candy, cigarettes, dairy, frozen, housewares, juices, meat, milk, produce, snacks, seasonal and small appliances. Weaker departments versus last year included computers, household chemicals, paper products and televisions.
