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 5 week retail month of June, which started on Monday, June 1 and ended on Sunday, July 5. This period is compared to the 5 weeks that began on Monday, June 3 and ended on Sunday, July 7, 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 absence 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 5 week month of June came in at 16,180,000,000 an increase of 11.1 percent from $14,570,000,000 last year. Comparable sales were as follows. On a reported basis, the U.
S. For the 5 weeks was 11.0%, 44 weeks, 7.2 percent Canada, the 5 weeks was at 8.4%, 44 weeks, 3.6%. Other international, 5 weeks was at 18.0 percent 44 weeks, 7.6 percent Total company in 5 weeks is 11.5%, 44 weeks, 6.7%. And for e commerce, the 5 weeks was an 85.8 percent, 44 weeks, 42.8%. Comparable sales, excluding the tax from changes in gasoline prices, foreign exchange were as follows: in the U.
S, the 5 weeks was at 13.6 percent 44 weeks, 8.1 percent in Canada, the 5 weeks was at 12.2 percent 44 weeks, 6.0 percent. Other international, the 5 weeks is at 22.1 percent and the 44 weeks, 10.2 percent. Total property, the 5 weeks is at 14.4% and the 44 weeks, 8.1%. E Commerce, the 5 weeks is an 86.7% and the 44 weeks is at 43.4%. The COVID-nineteen pandemic continues to impact our sales and comp traffic.
Merchandise sales were very strong in June, while ancillary businesses continued to underperform relative to the core, primarily due to softness in gas, food court and photo. Gas traffic improved from a month ago, but comp gallons remain negative. Food court service continues to be limited to carryout only and a reduced menu. Sales in our optical and hearing aid departments improved significantly from May as we were operational and continue to make progress in building back service levels in those departments. Our travel business remains soft as not much has changed in that industry from a month ago.
Our comp traffic or frequency for June was down 1.6% worldwide, but was positive 0.4% in the U. S, the first positive traffic result since March. The Everest transaction was up 13.3%, 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 Texas and Northeast other international and local currencies, we saw the strongest results in the U. K, Japan and Australia. Foreign currencies year over year relative to the U. S.
Dollar impact of June comp sales as follows: Canada, negatively by approximately 2 70 basis points other international, negative by approximately 290 basis points and total company negatively by approximately 70 basis points. Moving to merchandise highlights. The following comparable sales results by category for the month exclude the impact of foreign exchange. Food and sundries were positive high teens. Departments with the strongest results were frozen food, liquor and deli.
Fresh foods were up mid-20s. High performing departments included meat and produce. Hard lines were positive low-20s. Fair performing departments included major appliances, which includes consumer electronics, hardware and health and beauty. Softlines were positive mid teens.
Home furnishings were strong in the month as were small appliances. Apparel, particularly women's, performed well, which was a nice improvement to recent trend. Ancillary businesses were down high teens. This was primarily as a result of lower gasoline, photo and food court sales. Optical and hearing aids were down year over year but improved relative to last month as we were operational in these businesses as discussed earlier.
Gasoline price deflation negatively impacted total reported cost sales by a little more than 2%. The average selling price was lower year over year at $2.29 per gallon compared to $2.93 last year. Looking ahead, the July reporting period will include the 4 weeks beginning July 6 and ending August 2 compared to the 4 weeks beginning July 8 and ending August 4, 2019. July sales will be announced Wednesday, August 5, at 1:15 p. M.
Pacific Time. Costco currently operates 788 warehouses, including 548 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 100 in Canada, 39 in Mexico, 29 in the United Kingdom, 26 in Japan, 16 in Korea, 13 in Taiwan, 12 in Australia, 2 in Spain and 1 each in Iceland, France and China. HFOTCO 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 June sales results or any other Investor Relations questions, please do not hesitate to call Bob Nelson at 425 313-8255 Josh Damon at 425-313-8254 or myself, David Sherwood at 425 313-8239. Jim Gordon will be available until 5 p. M. Pacific Time, Wednesday, July 15. Thanks for calling.
Have a great day.