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 five-week retail month of September, which started on Monday, September 2nd, and ended on Sunday, October 6th. This period is compared to the five weeks beginning on Monday, September 3rd, and ending on Sunday, October 7th, 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 $14.41 billion, an increase of 5.6% from $13.64 billion last year. Comparable sales were as follows. On a reported basis, the U.S. for the five weeks was at 5.0%. Canada for the five weeks was at 1.2%. Other international for the five weeks was at 3.0%. Total company for the five weeks was at 4.2%, and e-commerce for the five weeks was at 17.8%. Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows. In the U.S., the five weeks was at 5.7%. Canada was 4.5%. Other international for the five weeks is at 5.9%.
Total company for the five weeks is at 5.6%. E-commerce for the five weeks was at 18.5%. We anniversary the adoption of ASC 606 Revenue Recognition last month. 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 L.A. 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 September comparable sales as follows. Canada by approximately 200 basis points, other international by approximately 260 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 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. Hard lines were positive high single digits. Better performing departments were sporting goods, majors, and HABA. Soft lines were up low single digits. Better performing departments included home furnishings, kiosks, and houseware. 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 comparable sales increases. Gasoline price deflation negatively impacted total reported comparable 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 four weeks beginning October 7th and ending on November 3rd, compared to the four weeks beginning on October 8th and ending November 4th, 2018. October sales will be released at 1:15 P.M. 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, two 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, 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 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, October 16th. Thanks for calling, and have a great day.