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 September, which started on Monday, September 2 and ended on Sunday, October 6. This period is compared to the 5 weeks beginning on Monday, September 3 and ending on Sunday, October 7, 2018. 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 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. Now with regards to sales. As reported in our release, net sales for the 5 week month of September came in at 14,410,000,000 dollars an increase of 5.6 percent from $13,640,000,000 last year. Comparable sales were as follows.
On a reported basis, the U. S. For the 5 weeks was at 5.0 percent Canada for the 5 weeks was at 1.2 percent Other international for the 5 weeks was a 3.0 percent. Total company for the 5 weeks was a 4.2% and e commerce for the 5 weeks is a 17.8%. Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows.
In the U. S, the 5 weeks is a 5.7 percent Canada was 4.5 percent Other international for the 5 weeks is a 5.9%. Total company for the 5 weeks is a 5.6% and e commerce for the 5 weeks was an 18.5%. We anniversaried the adoption of ASC 606 rev rec last month, so our comps are no longer being impacted by the accounting change. In terms of regional and merchandising categories, the general highlights were as follows.
The U. S. Regions with the strongest results were the Bay Area, San Diego and LA. Other international and local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Japan, Spain and Taiwan. Foreign currencies year over year relative to the U.
S. Dollar hurt and total company by approximately 65 basis points. And total company by approximately 65 basis points. The negative impact of cannibalization was approximately 30 basis points in the U. S, 190 basis points in other international and 50 basis points for the total company.
Moving to the merchandise highlights, The following comparable sales results by category for the month exclude the impact of foreign exchange. Food and sundries were positive mid single digits. Departments with the strongest results were candy, sundries and liquor. Hardlines were positive high single digits. Better performing departments were sporting goods, majors and haba.
Softlines were up low single digits. Better performing departments included home furnishings, kiosks and houseware. And finally, fresh foods were up mid single digits. Better performing departments included service deli and produce. Within the ancillary businesses, hearing aids, optical and pharmacy had the best comp sales increases.
Gasoline price deflation negatively impacted total reported comp sales by approximately 75 basis points. The average selling price was lower year over year at $2.86 per gallon this year compared to $3.03 a year earlier. Our comp traffic or frequency for September was up 3.5% worldwide and 3.3% in the U. S. The average transaction was up 0.7% for the month, which includes the negative impacts from foreign exchange and gasoline deflation.
Looking ahead, the October reporting period will include the 4 weeks beginning October 7 and ending on November 3 compared to the 4 weeks beginning on October 8th and ending November 4th, 2018. October sales will be released at 1:15 Pacific Time on November 6th. Costco currently operates 783 warehouses, including 544 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, 11 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 and Taiwan. If you have any questions regarding our September sales results or have 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, October 16th.
Thanks for calling, and have a great day.