Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $7.51 billion for thefour weeks ended Nov. 27, 2011, an increase of 11 percent from $6.78 billion during the similar four-week period last year.


For the first 13 weeks of its reporting period ended Nov. 27, 2011, the company reported net sales of $23.13 billion, an increase of 12 percent from $20.59 billion during the similar period last year.


Comparable sales for the four-week and 13-week periods ended Nov. 27:


                                 4 Weeks   13 Weeks
                                 ———- ———-

U.S.                                 9%         10%
International                      9%         10%

Total Company                   9%         10%
                              ========== ==========

 

Inflation in gasoline prices had a positive impact on comparable sales; foreign currencies had a slightly negative impact for the four-week period, and a slightly positive impact for the thirteen-week period. Excluding these effects, comparable sales for the four-week and thirteen-week periods were as follows:  
                                                       4 Weeks   13 Weeks
                                                        ———- ———-

U.S.                                                     6%         7%
International                                        11%        10%

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

Costco currently operates 596 warehouses, including 433 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 82 in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 22 in the United Kingdom, nine in Japan, eight in Taiwan, seven in Korea and three in Australia. The Company also operates Costco Online, an electronic commerce web site, at www.costco.com and at www.costco.ca in Canada. The Company plans to open two additional warehouses in Japan prior to the end of calendar year 2011.