Costco, BJ's sales take hit in July

ISSAQUAH, Wash. and Natick, Mass. Costco and BJ’s reported decreasing sales for July 2009.

Costco reported net sales of $5.41 billion for the month of July, the four weeks ended August 2, 2009, a decrease of 5% from $5.70 billion in the same four-week period last year.

BJ's reported that sales for July 2009 decreased by 6.3% to $722.5 million from $771.3 million in July 2008. On a comparable club basis, July 2009 sales decreased by 9.1%, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 10.9%. Merchandise comparable-club sales, excluding the impact of gasoline, increased by 1.8%.

In 2008, the company reported a comparable-club sales increase of 16.7% for July, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 9.7%. Excluding the impact of gasoline, merchandise comparable-club sales increased by 7%.