Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $7.67 billion for the month of May, the four weeks ended May 27, an increase of 7 percent from $7.14 billion during the similar period last year.
 
For the first 39 weeks of its reporting period ended May 27, the company reported net sales of $71.28 billion, an increase of 10 percent from $64.75 billion during the similar period last year.
 
Comparable sales for these periods were as follows:

 

                               4 Weeks    39 Weeks
                               ———-  ———


                     U.S.                  5%          7%
                     International       3%          7%
                     Total Company    4%          7%
                                            ======  ======


Deflation in gasoline prices had a slight negative impact on comparable sales for the four-week period, while inflation in gasoline prices had a positive impact for the 39 week period. Foreign currencies had a negative impact for both periods. Excluding these effects, comparable sales for these periods were as follows: 


 

                                  4 Weeks    39 Weeks
                                    ———-  ———-
                  U.S.                  5%          6%
                  International       8%          9%

                  Total Company   6%          7%
                                    =======  =======


Costco currently operates 602 warehouses, including 435 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 82 in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 22 in the United Kingdom, 13 in Japan, eight in Taiwan, seven in Korea and three in Australia. The Company also operates Costco Online, an electronic commerce web site in Canada. The company plans to open up to an additional six new warehouses prior to the end of its fiscal year on September 2, 2012.