For December, Costco Wholesale Corp posted net sales of $29.86 billion, up 8.5% from the month a year previous.
Comparable sales, without the effects of fuel and foreign exchange volatility, increased 6.2% with stores in the United States reporting a 6.3% gain, those in Canada gaining 6% and those in other international markets gaining 5.6%, the company reported. Digital comps increased 18.3%.
During a conference call, the company reported that store traffic increased 2.4% in the U.S.
By U.S. region, comp sales were strongest in the Midwest, Northwest and Southeast. As for merchandising categories, non-foods were up in mid single digits with small appliances, majors, jewelry and tires best. Food & Sundries grew in the mid-single digits, while Fresh Food grew in the high single digits.
Costco operates 923 warehouses including 633 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 114 in Canada, 42 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 20 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, three in France, two in Sweden, and one each in Iceland, and New Zealand. The company operates e-commerce websites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia.
