Hello, and thank you for calling Costco Wholesale Corporation. I'm Josh Dahmen, Director of Finance and Investor Relations, and I will review our sales results for the four-week retail month of January, which started on Monday, 3rd January and ended on Sunday, 30th January . This period is compared to the four weeks that began last year on Monday, 4th January , and ended on Sunday, 31st January . This call will include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, and/or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those outlined in today's call and sales release, as well as other risks identified from time to time in the company's public statements and reports filed with the SEC.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day they are made, and the company does not undertake to update them except as required by law. As reported in our release, net sales for January came in at $15.76 billion, an increase of 15.5% from $13.64 billion last year. Lunar and Chinese New Year occurred on 1st February 11 days earlier this year. The shift favorably impacted January's Other International and total company sales by approximately 4% and 0.5% respectively. Comparable sales were as follows. Reported. For the U.S., weeks, 14.1%. 22 weeks, 15.2%. For Canada, the four weeks, 17.8%. 22 weeks, 16.9%. For Other International, the four weeks, 11.8%. 22 weeks, 11.1%.
For total company, the four weeks, 14.2%. 22 weeks, 14.8%. E-com for the four weeks, 9.0%. 22 weeks, 13.6%. Comparable sales, excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange, were as follows. In the U.S., for the four weeks, 9.5%. 22 weeks, 10.4%. For Canada, the four weeks, 13.9%. 22 weeks, 10.4%. Other international for the four weeks, 14.6%. 22 weeks, 11.3%. For total company, the four weeks, 10.8%. 22 weeks, 10.5%. For e-com, the four weeks, 9.0%. 22 weeks, 13.1%. Our comp traffic or frequency for January was up 9.4% worldwide and 7.5% in the U.S.
Foreign currencies year-over-year relative to the U.S. dollar impacted total and comparable sales as follows. Canada positively by approximately 1.0%, other international negatively by approximately 4.9%, and total company negatively by approximately 0.6%. Gasoline price inflation positively impacted total reported comp sales by approximately 4.0%. The average worldwide selling price per gallon was 42% higher this year. Worldwide, the average transaction for January was up 4.5%, which included the benefit from gasoline inflation and the negative impact from FX. In terms of regional and merchandising categories, the general highlights were as follows. U.S. regions with the strongest comparable sales were L.A., Texas, and the Southeast. Other international and local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Taiwan, Korea, and Australia. Inflation in January was consistent with what we saw in December.
Moving to merchandise highlights, the following comparable sales results by category for the month exclude the impact of foreign exchange. Foods and Sundries were positive high single digits. Sundries, frozen food, and candy were the strongest departments. Fresh Foods were up low double digits. Better performing departments included service deli and bakery. Non-Foods were positive high single digits. Better performing departments included tire shop, health and beauty aids, lawn and garden, and apparel. Ancillary business sales were up mid-forties. Gas, Food Court, and Pharmacy were the top performers. Looking ahead, the February sales reporting period began 31st January and ends 27th February , compared to the four weeks that began last 1st February and ended 28th February 2021. February sales will be announced in conjunction with our Q2 quarterly results Thursday 3rd hursday, March , at 1 P.M. Pacific Time.
A discussion on both Q2 earnings and February sales will occur at 2:00 P.M. Pacific Time on the 3rd. If you have any questions regarding our January sales results or any other investor relations questions, please call Bob Nelson at 425-313-8255, David Sherwood at 425-313-8239, or myself, Josh Dahmen, at 425-313-8254. This recording will be available until 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time Wednesday, 9th February . Thanks for calling Costco Wholesale Corporation, and have a great day.