Issaquah, Wash. - Costco reported a 16-percent hike in net sales to $20.2 billion for its fiscal third quarter ended May 8.

Same-store sales in the U.S. rose 6 percent during the period, excluding the positive impact of higher gasoline prices.

Net income increased 5.9 percent to $324 million for the quarter, which reflected a $49 million pre-tax last-in, first-out (LIFO) charge and a prior-year pre-tax benefit of $14 million.

The No. 1 warehouse club attributed about 3 percentage points of its sales to the inclusion of its 50-percent owned Mexican joint venture in its results, but said the operation had no impact on profits.