BJ's monthly merch comps up 7.6%

NATICK, Mass. BJ's Wholesale Club reported that total sales for the month of January increased by 0.9% to $656.7 million from $651 million in January 2008. On a comparable-club basis, January sales decreased by 0.7%, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of approximately 8.3%. Excluding gasoline sales, merchandise comparable-club sales increased by 7.6% in January.

For the fourth quarter of 2008, total sales increased by 3.2% to $2.5 billion, and comparable-club sales increased by 1.7%, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 4.7%.

For the year ended Jan. 31, total sales rose by 11.5% to $9.8 billion and comparable club sales increased by 9.4%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 3.0%.

Merchandise departments with the strongest sales increases compared to last year included breakfast foods, candy, coffee, computers, dairy, frozen, health and beauty aids, household chemicals, meat, paper products, pet foods, prepared foods, produce, small appliances, snacks and winter seasonal, including ice melt, shovels and snow throwers. Weaker departments versus last year included apparel, domestics, jewelry, pre-recorded video, sporting goods, residential furniture, televisions and water.