Costco shines in November

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corporation today reported a 5% increase in net sales to $8.78 billion for the month of November.

For the company's 12-week first quarter, Costco also reported a 5% jump in net sales to $24.47 billion compared to $23.20 billion last year.

For the 13-week year-to-date period, Costco saw net sales grow by 6% to $26.80 billion.

Excluding negative impacts from gasoline price deflation and foreign exchange, comparable sales grew were also up. Here are the results:

· November: 3% U.S., 6% international, and 4% total company;

· 12 weeks: 4% U.S., 6% international, and 5% for the total company;

· 13 weeks: 4% U.S., 6% international, and 5% total company.

Costco currently operates 648 warehouses, including 461 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 87 in Canada, 33 in Mexico, 25 in the United Kingdom, 18 in Japan, 10 in Taiwan, nine in Korea and five in Australia. Costco also operates electronic commerce web sites in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico