Costco Wholesale Corp. reported comps gained 5% in October, helped by strengthening
foreign currencies. Comps were up 2% in the U.S. and jumped 17% internationally.
The retailer said the strengthening of foreign currencies relative to
the U.S. dollar had a positive impact on October's reported comparable
sales, which is in contrast to the previous fourteen months, during
which time such impact had been negative. Comparable sales for the
four-week and nine-week periods, excluding the positive impact of
foreign exchange, as well as the negative impact from gasoline
deflation, were up 3% in the U.S., up 7% internationally, and ahead 4% overall.
Total sales in October advanced 7% to $5.30 billion.
For the first nine weeks of its reporting period ended November 1,
2009, the company reported net sales of $12.53 billion, an increase of
five percent from $11.97 billion during the similar period last year.
comps were ahead 3% and gained 4% excluding foreign currency affects.
