Hello, thank you for calling Costco Wholesale Corporation. I'm David Sherwood, a VP of Finance and Investor Relations, and I will review our sales results for the four-week retail month of October, which started on Monday, October 5th, and ended on Sunday, November 1st. This period is compared to the four weeks that began on Monday, October 7th, and ended on Sunday, November 3rd, 2019. 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, net sales for the four-week month of October came in at $13.82 billion, an increase of 15.9% from $11.92 billion last year. Comparable sales were as follows. On a reported basis in the U.S., the four weeks is a 13.6%. For nine weeks, it's 14.1%. Canada for the four weeks is a 13.9%, for the nine weeks, 15.9%. Other international for the four weeks, 19.6%, nine weeks, 19.0%. Total company in the four weeks is a 14.4%, nine weeks, 15.0%, and e-commerce for the four weeks is a 91.1%, and for the nine weeks, 90.6%. Comparable sales, excluding the impacts from change in gasoline prices and foreign exchange, were as follows.
In the U.S., the four weeks is a 16.4%, nine weeks, 16.6%. In Canada, the four weeks was a 15.2%, 9 weeks, 16.7%. Other international, the four weeks is a 19.0%, nine weeks, 18.2%. Total company in the four weeks was a 16.5%, and the nine weeks was a 16.8%. E-commerce for the four weeks was a 91.0%, and for the nine weeks, 90.5%. Comp traffic or frequency for October was up 4.6% worldwide and 6.2% in the U.S. Worldwide average transaction was up 9.4%, which included a net negative impact of 210 basis points from gasoline deflation and FX. Foreign currencies year-over-year relative to the U.S. dollar impacted October comp sales as follows. Canada, negatively by approximately 30 basis points. Other international, positively by approximately 140 basis points. Total company, positively by approximately 15 basis points.
Gasoline price deflation negatively impacted total reported comp sales by approximately 225 basis points. The average selling price was 21% lower year-over-year at $2.35 per gallon this year compared to $2.96 per gallon last year. Total gallons sold also continued to be lower year-over-year. In terms of regional and merchandise categories, the general highlights were as follows. U.S. regions with the strongest results were the Northeast, Southeast, and Texas. Other international and local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Japan, Korea, and U.K. Moving to merchandise highlights, the following comparable sales results by category for the month exclude the impact of foreign exchange. Food and beverages were positive low 20s. Departments with the strongest results were frozen foods, liquor, and [fruits]. Fresh foods were up mid-20s. Better performing departments included meat and produce. Hardlines were positive mid-20s.
Better performing departments included garden, major appliances, which includes consumer electronics and sporting goods. Softlines were positive mid-teens. Home furnishings, housewares, and small appliances were strong in the month. Ancillary business sales were down mid-teens. This was primarily a result of lower gasoline, food court, and photo sales. Optical was up slightly and hearing aids were flat. Looking ahead, the November reporting period will include the four weeks beginning November 2nd and ending November 29th, compared to the four weeks beginning November 4th and ending December 1st, 2019. November sales will be announced Wednesday, December 2nd at 1:15 PM Pacific Time.
If you have any questions regarding our October sales results or any other investor relations questions, please call Bob Nelson at 425-313-8255, Josh Dahmen at 425-313-8254, or myself, David Sherwood, at 425-313-8239. This recording will be available until 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Wednesday, November 11th. Thanks for calling. Have a great day. Thanks for calling, and have a great day.