Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales increased 12% to $5.41 billion for the month of August from $4.84 billion a year ago. On a same-store basis, sales grew 9% in the U.S. and 6% internationally.


 


The warehouse club operator said the four-week U.S. comparable sales figure includes, among other things, the effect of gasoline price inflation, with the average sales price per gallon of gasoline up 40%, as compared to the year-earlier August. Excluding gasoline price inflation, U.S. comparable sales would have been up 6%. In addition, foreign exchange rates negatively impacted international comparable sales results. On a local currency basis, international comparable sales increased 8% in August


 


Net sales for the fiscal 2008 fourth quarter, the sixteen weeks ended August 31, 2008, were $22.60 billion, an increase of 12% from $20.09 billion in the sixteen-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 ended September 2, 2007. Comps rose 9% domestically and 11% internationally.


 


Net sales for the 52-week fiscal year 2008 were $70.95 billion, an increase of 12% from $63.09 billion in the 52-week fiscal year 2007 ended September 2, 2007. Comps rose 6% domestically and 15% internationally.