January Comps Up 13% at Costco

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $3.44 billion for the four weeks ended February 1, 2004, an increase of 16% from $2.97 billion in the same four-week period of the prior fiscal year. January Comps Rose 13%.

For the first 22 weeks of its 2004 fiscal year ended February 1,
2004, the Company reported net sales of $19.92 billion, an increase of
15 percent from $17.38 billion during the similar 22-week period of
the prior fiscal year.

Comparable sales for the 4-week and 22-week periods ended February
1, 2004, were as follows:

                              4 Weeks       22 Weeks

                           -------------  -------------

          US                    12%            9%

          International         14%            21%

          Total Company         13%            12%

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