Comp sales were up 17.2% for the five-week period

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. reported net sales of $21.61 billion for the retail month of March, an increase of 18.7% over the $18.21 billion posted in the corresponding period last year.

Comparable sales for the period (the five weeks ended April 3) increased 19.1% for the company’s U.S. operations, or 12.7% when adjusted to exclude the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange rates. For the total company, comparable sales for the retail month were up 17.2%, or 15.1% adjusted. E-commerce sales were up 8.9% (9.2% adjusted) for the retail month.

For the thirty-one weeks ended April 3, Costco reported net sales of $130 billion, an increase of 16.7% from $111.37 billion recorded during the similar period last year.

Comparable sales for the 31-week period increased 16.1% for the U.S. business (11.1% adjusted), and 15.1% (10.8% adjusted) for the entire company. E-commerce sales for the year-to-date period were up 12.5% (12.2% adjusted) for the 31-week period.