Hello, and thank you for calling Costco Wholesale Corporation. I'm David Sherwood, AVP of Finance and Investor Relations, and I will review our sales results for the 4 week retail month of May, which started on Monday, May 3 and ended on Sunday, May 30. This period is compared to the 4 weeks that began on Monday, May 4 and ended on Sunday, May 31, 2020. 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 date they are made, and the company does not undertake to update them except as required by law. As reported in our release today, our net sales for May came in at $15,590,000,000 an increase of 24.2 percent from $12,550,000,000 last year. Comparable sales were as follows. On a reported basis, in the U.
S, the 4 weeks is at 21.9%, 30 9 weeks, 15.3% and Canada, the 4 weeks is at 28.8%, 30 9 weeks 20.7%. Other international for 4 weeks 21.5%, 30 9 weeks 20.9 percent and total company in the 4 weeks was at 22.8% and the 39 weeks is a 16.8%. E commerce for the 4 weeks is a 12.1%, 39 weeks, 58.9%. Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows. In the U.
S, the 4 weeks was a 16.7 percent, 39 weeks 15.3 percent. In Canada, the 4 weeks was at 8.9%, 39 weeks, 14.1 percent other international, 4 weeks, 9.6%, 30 9 weeks, 15.6%. Total company, the 4 weeks was at 14.7% and the 39 weeks, 15.2%. E commerce, 4 weeks, 8.7% and 39 weeks, 57.1%. Our comp traffic or frequency for May was up 18.8% worldwide and up 18.3% in the U.
S. 4 week May retail month had one additional shopping day versus last year due to the calendar shift of Memorial Day. This positively impacted total and comparable sales as well as traffic by approximately 2% to 2.5%. Foreign currencies year over year relative to the U. S.
Dollar impacted May comp sales as follows: Canada, positively by approximately 17% other international positively by approximately 10.5% and total company positively by approximately 3.7%. Gasoline price inflation positively impacted total reported comp sales by approximately 4.4%. Their average selling price was 53% higher year over year at $3.13 per gallon this year compared to $2.05 last year. Comp gasoline volume was also up significantly relative to last year. Worldwide, the average transaction for May was up 3.4%, which included the positive impacts from gasoline inflation and FX.
In terms of regional and merchandising categories, the general highlights were as follows. U. S. Regions with the strongest sales increases were Texas, Southeast and Midwest. Other international and local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Spain, Mexico and Korea.
Moving into merchandise highlights, the following comparable sales results by category for the month exclude the positive impact of foreign exchange. Food and sundries were positive mid to high single digits. Candy, sundries and liquor were the strongest departments. Fresh foods were up low double digits. Better performing departments included service deli and bakery.
Non foods were positive in the mid to high teens. Better performing departments included home furnishings, jewelry and apparel. Ancillary business sales were up more than 80%. Gas, hearing aids, optical and food court were all significant drivers. Looking ahead, the June reporting period will include the 5 weeks beginning May 31 and ending July 4 compared to the 5 weeks beginning June 1 and ending July 5, 2020.
June will have one fewer shopping day versus last year due to the calendar shift of Memorial Day. June sales will be announced on Thursday, July 8 at 1:15 p. M. Pacific Time. If you have any questions regarding our May sales results or any other Investor Relations questions, please call Bob Nelson at 425-313-8255, Josh Damon at 425-313-8254 or myself, David Sherwood at 425-313-8239.
This recording will be available until 5 pm Pacific Time, Thanks for calling. Have a great day.