Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $7.67 billion for the month of October – the four weeks ended Oct. 28 – an increase of nine percent from $7.01 billion during the similar four-week period last year.  Comparable sales in the U.S. increased 4 percent during the four-week period compared to the year-ago period.

Comparable sales for the four-week and nine-week periods ended Oct. 28:

         
    4 Weeks   9 Weeks
         
U.S.   7%   6%
International   9%   8%
         
Total Company   7%   7%
         

                    
For the first nine weeks of its reporting period ended Oct. 28, the company reported net sales of $16.98 billion, an increase of nine percent from $15.62 billion during the similar period last year.

International sales during the four weeks ended Oct. 28 were up 9 percent from the comparable period last year. 
   
Inflation in gasoline prices, as well as stronger foreign currencies, had a positive impact on comparable sales for both periods. Excluding these effects, comparable sales for the four-week and nine-week periods were as follows:

         
    4 Weeks   9 Weeks
         
U.S.   5%   5%
International   5%   6%
         
Total Company   5%   5%
         

Costco currently operates 612 warehouses, including 442 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 83 in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 22 in the United Kingdom, 13 in Japan, nine in Taiwan, eight in Korea and three in Australia. The company plans to open up to ten additional warehouses prior to the end of calendar year 2012.