Costco Wholesale Corporation reported comp stores sales for the month of June, the five weeks ended July 4, 2010 rose just 1% in the United States after subtracting gasoline sales, but would have grown  by 3 to 4% had Memorial Day fallen in the period.


The wholesale club reported net sales of $7.33 billion for the period, an increase of 7% from $6.87 billion in the comparable five-week period last year.

 

This year's five-week period included 33 days in the U.S. (closed Memorial Day and Independence Day) versus 34 days last year (closed Independence Day; Memorial Day was in the May reporting period). The Memorial Day holiday shift negatively impacted this year's total and comparable sales by approximately two percent (two to three percent in the U.S.).

For the forty-four weeks ended July 4, 2010, the company reported net sales of $64.50 billion, an increase of nine percent from $59.02 billion during the similar period last year.


Comparable sales for the periods ended July 4, 2010, were as follows:

                                   5 Weeks       44 Weeks
                                 ————   ————
                U.S.                  2%             4%
                International         14%            20%

                Total Company         4%             7%
                                 ============   ============
 
Inflation in gasoline prices and strengthening foreign 
currencies had a positive impact on comparable sales. 
Excluding these effects, the June and year-to-date 
comparable sales were as follows:
  				5 Weeks       44 Weeks
                                 ————   ————
                U.S.                  1%             2%
                International         8%             9%

                Total Company         3%             3%
                                 ============   ============