Issaquah, Wash. — April showered higher sales on Costco in most categories, save for CE.
Net sales rose 7 percent in April to $8.6 billion, and U.S. comp sales increased 5 percent, with a slight decrease in CE tempering the gains.
The No. 1 wholesale club said CE comps were “slightly negative” last month, and that declines in CE and office products largely offset strength in other hardline categories like automotive, tires and hardware.
The monthly sales tally was also impacted by a calendar shift that resulted in one less reporting day this year, which reduced net sales and comps by 1.5 to 2 percent.
The company said average ticket rose 1 percent and traffic increased 3.5 percent, and cited the Southeast, California and the Midwest as its strongest regions in April.