5 Weeks 18 Weeks
-------- --------
U.S. 5% 2%
International 25% 17%
Total Company 9% 5%
======== ========
Inflation in gasoline prices and strengthening foreign currencies had a
positive impact on December's comparable sales. Comparable sales excluding
these effects were as follows:
5 Weeks 18 Weeks
-------- --------
U.S. 2% 2%
International 10% 8%
Total Company 4% 3%
======== ========
Additional discussion of these sales results is available on a pre-recorded
telephone message. You can access the recording by dialing 1-800-642-1687
(conference ID 44187102). This recorded message will be available today
through 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday, January 8, 2010.
Costco currently operates 566 warehouses, including 413 in the United
States and Puerto Rico, 77 in Canada, 21 in the United Kingdom, seven in
Korea, six in Taiwan, nine in Japan, 32 in Mexico and one in Australia.
The Company also operates Costco Online, an electronic commerce web site,
at www.costco.com and at www.costco.ca in Canada.
Certain statements contained in this document and the pre-recorded
telephone message constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For these
purposes, forward-looking statements are statements that address
activities, events, conditions or developments that the Company expects or
anticipates may occur in the future. Such forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or
performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, domestic and
international economic conditions, including exchange rates, the effects of
competition and regulation, uncertainties in the financial markets,
consumer and small business spending patterns and debt levels, conditions
affecting the acquisition, development, ownership or use of real estate,
actions of vendors, rising costs associated with employees (including
health care costs), geopolitical conditions and other risks identified from
time to time in the Company's public statements and reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact Information: CONTACTS: Costco Wholesale Corporation Richard Galanti 425/313-8203 Bob Nelson 425/313-8255 Jeff Elliott 425/313-8264