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 March, which started on Monday, March 2 and ended on Sunday, April 5. This period is compared to the 5 weeks beginning on Monday, March 4 and ending on Sunday, April 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 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 March came in at $15,490,000,000 an increase of 11.7 percent from $13,870,000,000 last year. The bearable sales were as follows. On a reported basis, in the U.
S, the 5 weeks was a 10.7% 31 weeks, 8.0 percent for Canada, the 5 weeks was a 1.2% 31 weeks, 5.4 percent other international, the 5 weeks was a 12.2% 31 weeks, 7.0 percent total company, 5 weeks, 9.6 percent 31 weeks, 7.5 percent and e commerce for the 5 weeks is a 48.3%, 31 weeks 22.2%. Comparable sales, excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange, were as follows. In the U. S, the 5 weeks was at 12.1%, 31 weeks, 7.9% Canada, the 5 weeks is at 7.2%, 31 weeks, 6.4%. Other international, the 5 weeks was a 19.2%, 31 weeks, 8.4% and total company, 5 weeks, 12.3%, 31 weeks, 7.8% and e commerce, the 5 weeks, was a 49.8%, 31 weeks was a 22.4%.
March sales were significantly impacted by the COVID-nineteen pandemic. The initial response to the pandemic led to significant sales and traffic increases in our warehouses as we disclosed last month concerning sales in the last week of February. Those increases extended midway through the March reporting period. Around that time, in part, in response to government actions, we began implementing operational changes. One example is limiting the number of individuals allowed in our warehouses at any given time, depending on local requirements.
In addition, we have changed warehouse hours, temporarily closed some segments of our business such as optical, hearing aid and MiniLab, limited service at food courts and in some locations ceased sales of certain merchandise deemed non essential by regulators. These developments slowed sales as compared to the first half of March. In terms of regional and merchandising categories, the general highlights were as follows. In the U. S.
Regions with the strongest results were the Texas, Northeast and Midwest. Other international and local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Taiwan, U. K. And Australia. Foreign currencies year over year relative to the U.
S. Dollar impacted March comp sales as follows: Canada negatively by approximately negative 4 10 basis points other international negatively by approximately 6 20 basis points and total company negative by approximately 140 basis points. The negative impact of cannibalization was approximately 10 basis points in the U. S, 120 basis points in other international and 20 basis points for total company. 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 mid-30s. Departments with the strongest results were food, frozen food and sundries. Fresh foods were up mid-20s. Better performing departments included meat and produce.
Hardlines were negative, low single digits. Underperforming departments were tires, sporting goods and lawn and garden. Softlines were down mid-20s. Underperforming departments included luggage, jewelry and apparel. Within the ancillary businesses, pharmacy and gas had the best comp sales.
Gasoline price deflation negatively impacted total reported comp sales by approximately 130 basis points. The average selling price was lower year over year at 2.38 dollars per gallon this year compared to $2.78 a year earlier. Our comp traffic or frequency for March was up 3.7% worldwide and 5.3% in the U. S. The average transaction was up 5.7% for the month, which includes the impact from foreign exchange and gas deflation.
Looking ahead, the April reporting period will include the 4 weeks beginning April 6 and ending May 3, compared to the 4 weeks beginning April 8, ending May 5, 2019. April sales will be announced Wednesday, May 6, at 1:15 p. M. Pacific Time. Costco currently operates 787 warehouses, including 547 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.
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 March 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. This recording will be available until 5 p.
M. Pacific Time, Wednesday, April 15th. Thanks for calling, and have a great day.