Costco Wholesale Corp.'s same-store sales dropped 5% in
March, hurt by lower gas prices and the stronger dollar. Excluding those two
factors, the wholesale club chain said same-store sales gained 4% for the
period ended April 5. U.S.
comps were down 2% in the month while international comps fell 13%.

Excluding the negative impacts from gasoline deflation and foreign exchange (primarily
in Canada, the United Kingdom and Korea),
comps gained 3% in the U.S.
and were ahead 9% internationally.

Total monthly sales dipped 3% to $6.39 billion.

 

Costco said its results included one extra day in the period
due to a shift in the Easter holiday.

 

Year-to-date same-store sales fell 2%. Excluding lower gas
prices and the stronger dollar, same-store sales for the 31-week period rose 4%.

 

Costco currently runs 555 warehouses, including 408 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 76 in Canada, 21 in the U.K.,
six in Korea, five in Taiwan, eight in Japan
and 31 in Mexico.