BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. reported that sales for July 2010 increased by 6.6% to $770.3 million from $722.5 million in July 2009. On a comparable club basis, July 2010 sales increased by 2.8% including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 0.9%. Merchandise comparable club sales excluding the impact of gasoline increased by 1.9%.
In 2009, the company reported a comparable club sales decrease of 9.1% for July, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 10.9%. Excluding the impact of gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales in July 2009 increased by 1.8%.
For the second quarter ended July 31, 2010, total sales increased by 8.6% to $2.7 billion and comparable club sales increased by 4.4%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 1.5%. Excluding the impact of gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 2.9%. For the second quarter of 2009, the company reported a comparable club sales decrease of 7.7%, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 10.6%. Excluding the impact of gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales for the second quarter of 2009 increased by 2.9%.
For the 26-week period ended July 31, 2010, total sales increased by 10.6% and comparable club sales increased by 6.0%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 2.5%. Excluding the impact of gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 3.5%. For the 26-week period ended August 1, 2009, comparable club sales decreased by 4.8% including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 9.8%. Excluding the impact of gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales for the first half of 2009 increased by 5.0%.
The company provided the following additional information regarding comparable club sales for July 2010:
— Merchandise comparable club sales (which exclude sales of gasoline) increased in weeks one, two and three and decreased slightly in week four.
— Merchandise comparable club sales (which exclude sales of gasoline) increased in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Upstate New York regions and were approximately flat in the Metro New York and New England regions.
— Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased by approximately 4% and the average transaction amount decreased by approximately 2%. For the second quarter and the first half of 2010, traffic increased by approximately 4% and the average transaction amount decreased by approximately 1%.
— On a comparable club basis, food sales increased by approximately 4% and general merchandise
sales decreased by approximately 2% in July. For the second quarter and the first half of 2010, food sales increased by approximately 5% and general merchandise sales were approximately flat.
— For the month of July, departments with the strongest sales increases compared to last year included cigarettes, dairy, housewares, juices, milk, prepared foods, produce, tires and water. Departments with weaker sales compared to last year included air conditioners, apparel, seasonal and televisions.
