BJ's reports July sales increase

NATICK, Mass. BJ’s Wholesale Club has reported that sales for July increased by 18.9% to $773.2 million from $650.5 million in July 2007. On a comparable-club basis, July sales increased by 16.7%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 9.7%. In 2007, the company reported a comparable-club sales increase of 1.5% for July, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 0.6% and a negative impact from the absence of pharmacy sales versus July 2006 of 0.4%.

According to the company, sales increases for July were highest in Upstate New York and the Southeast. The lowest sales increases were recorded in the New England and Metro New York regions.

For the month of July, departments with the strongest sales increases compared to last year included bakery, coffee, computer equipment, dairy, frozen, health & beauty, household chemicals, meat, oils & shortenings, pet food, paper, produce, snacks, small appliances and toys. Weaker departments versus last year included books (reflecting last year’s Harry Potter release), cigarettes, jewelry, major appliances, residential furniture, televisions and video games.