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 four-week retail month of July, which started on Monday, July 6th, and ended on Sunday, August 2nd. This period is compared to the four weeks that began on Monday, July 8th, and ended on Sunday, August 4th, 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 July came in at $13.04 billion, an increase of 14.1% from the $11.43 billion last year. Comparable sales were as follows. On a reported basis, the U.S. for the four weeks was at 13.3%, 48 weeks, 7.7%. Canada, the four weeks was at 10.4%, 48 weeks, 4.2%. Other international, the four weeks was at 15.9%, 48 weeks, 8.3%. Total company, the four weeks was at 13.2%, 48 weeks, 7.3%. E-commerce for the four weeks is at 75.3%, and for the 48 weeks, 45.4%. Comparable sales, excluding impacts from change in gasoline prices and foreign exchange, were as follows. In the U.S., the four weeks was at 15.7%, 48 weeks, 8.8%.
Canada, the four weeks was at 14.8%, 48 weeks, 6.8%. Other international, the four weeks was at 18.2%, and the 48 weeks was at 10.8%. Total company, the four weeks was at 15.8%, 48 weeks, 8.8%. As for e-commerce for the four weeks was at 76.1%, the 48 weeks was at 46.1%. Our comp traffic or frequency for July was up 1.6% worldwide and 4.5% in the U.S., down 8.1% in Canada, and other international traffic was flat for the month. Worldwide, the average transaction was up 11.4%, which includes the negative impacts from foreign exchange and gasoline deflation. In terms of regional and merchandising categories, the general highlights were as follows. U.S. regions with the strongest results were the Southeast, Northeast, and Texas. Other international and local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Japan, U.K., and Mexico.
Foreign currencies year over year relative to the U.S. dollar impacted July comp sales as follows. Canada, negatively by approximately 320 basis points, other international, negatively by approximately 140 basis points, Total company, negatively by approximately 60 basis points. 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 low 20s. Departments with the strongest results were frozen food, liquor, and food. Fresh foods were up mid-20s. Better performing departments included meat and produce. Hard lines were positive mid-20s. Better performing departments included major appliances, which include consumer electronics, garden, automotive, hardware, and health and beauty. Soft lines were positive low teens. Home furnishings, women's apparel, and small appliances were strong in the month. Ancillary businesses were down mid-teens. This was primarily as a result of lower gasoline, photo, and Food Court sales.
Optical and hearing aids were lower single digits year-over-year. Gasoline price deflation negatively impacted total reported comp sales by a little less than 2%. The average selling price was lower year-over-year at $2.40 per gallon compared to $2.93. Looking ahead, the August reporting period will include the four weeks beginning August 3rd and ending August 30th, compared to the four weeks beginning August 5th and ending September 1st, 2019. August sales will be announced Wednesday, September 2nd at 1:15 P.M. Pacific Time. Costco currently operates 790 warehouses, including 548 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 100 in Canada, 39 in Mexico, 29 in the U.K., 27 in Japan, 16 in Korea, 13 in Taiwan, 12 in Australia, three in Spain, and one each in Iceland, France, and China. Costco also operates e-commerce websites in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia.
If you have any questions regarding our July sales results or any other investor relations questions, please do not hesitate to 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 P.M. Pacific Time, Wednesday, August 12th. Thanks for calling, and have a great day.