E-commerce comp sales were up 9% for the four weeks

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. reported net sales of $15.76 billion for the retail month of January, an increase of 15.5 from $13.64 billion last year.

The company noted that Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year occurred on February 1 this year, 11 days earlier than last year. The shift favorably impacted Costco’s “Other International” sales (those occurring outside the United States and Canada), increasing them by about 4%, and boosting total company sales by about 0.5%.

For the twenty-two weeks ended January 30, Costco reported net sales of $92.10 billion, an increase of 16.4% from $79.11 billion last year.

Comparable sales for the four weeks increased 14.1% in the U.S., 17.8% in Canada, and 11.8% in “other international” markets. For the total company, the increase was 14.2%. For the 22 week period, comparable sales increased 15.2% in the United States, 16.9% in Canada, 11.1% in other international, and 14.8% for the total company. E-commerce comparable store sales were up 9% in January and 13.6% for the 22-week fiscal year-to-date period.

When the impacts of changing gasoline prices and foreign exchange rates are excluded, Costco’s comparable sales for January were up 9.5% in the U.S., 13.9% in Canada, 14.6% for other international and 10.8% for the company as a whole.