Warehouse Clubs see increase in merch comps

ISSAQUAH, Wash. and NATICK, Mass. Costco and BJ’s report increased comparable-store sales in the month of October.

Costco reported net sales of $5.68 billion for the month of October, the four weeks ended Nov. 1, an increase of 7% from $5.3 billion in the same four-week period last year. Comparable-store sales increased 5% for the four-week period ended Nov. 1.

For the first nine weeks of its reporting period ended Nov. 1, 2009, the company reported net sales of $12.53 billion, an increase of 5% from $11.97 billion during the similar period last year. Comparable-store sales remained the same for the nine-week period ended Nov. 1.

BJ’s Wholesale Club reported that sales for October increased by 3.5% to $764.7 million from $738.9 million in the same period the year prior, and merchandise comparable-club sales increased 3.7%.

For third quarter ended Oct. 31, total sales increased by 2% to $2.45 billion from $2.4 billion, and merchandise comparable-club sales increased by 3.9%.

For the first nine months fiscal 2009, total sales decreased by 1.2% to $7.2 billion from $7.3 billion, and merchandise comparable-club sales increased by 4.7%.