Thank you for calling Costco Wholesale Corporation. I'm David Turwood, AVP of Finance and Investor Relations, and I will review our sales results for the 4 week retail month of August, which started on Monday, August 5 and ended on Sunday, September 1. This period is compared to the 4 weeks beginning on Monday, August 6 and ending on Sunday, September 2, 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 4 week month of August came in at $11,790,000,000 an increase of 6.9% from $11,030,000,000 last year. For the 16 weeks ended September 1, net sales came in at $46,450,000,000 an increase of 7.0 percent from $43,410,000,000 last year.
For the 52 weeks ended September 1, net sales came in at $149,350,000,000 an increase of 7.9 percent from $138,430,000,000 last year. Comparable sales were as follows. On a reported basis, in the U. S, the 4 weeks was at 6.4% 16 week quarter, 6.2% 52 weeks, 7.8% Canada, 4 weeks, 3.6 percent 16 weeks, 2.6 percent 52 weeks, 1.6 percent other international, 4 weeks, 2.3% 16 weeks, 1.9% 52 weeks, 2.0 percent. Total company, 4 weeks, 5.5 percent 16 weeks, 5.1 percent 52 weeks, 6.1 percent e commerce, 4 weeks, 23.9 percent 16 weeks 19.8 percent 52 weeks 23.1 percent.
Comparable sales, excluding impacts from changes in gasoline prices, foreign exchange and revenue recognition were as follows. In the U. S, the 4 weeks was a 5.9% 16 weeks, 5.2% 52 weeks, 6.4 percent Canada, 4 weeks, 6.1 percent 16 weeks, 4.7 percent 52 weeks, 5.3 percent. Other international, 4 weeks, 5.9% 16 weeks, 5.0 percent 52 weeks, 5.6%. Total company, 5.9 percent for the 4 weeks 16 weeks, 5.1 percent and for the 52 weeks, 6.1 percent.
E Commerce, 4 weeks, 23.8 percent 16 weeks, 21.9 percent 52 weeks, 23.3%. In terms of regional and merchandising categories, the general highlights were as follows. U. S. Regions with the strongest results were the Midwest, Texas and LA.
Other international and local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Taiwan, Spain and Mexico. Foreign currencies year over year to the U. S. Dollar hurt August comp sales as follows: Canada by approximately 180 basis points other international by approximately 3 30 basis points and total company by approximately 60 basis points. The impact from revenue recognition standard ASC 606 was a benefit of approximately 120 basis points for the U.
S. And 100 basis points for total company. The negative impact of cannibalization was approximately 40 basis points in the U. S, 30 basis points in Canada, 170 basis points in other international and 50 basis points for the tour company. Moving into 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, liquor and deli. Hardlines were positive high single digits. Better performing departments were automotive, sporting goods and majors.
Softlines were up low single digits. Better performing departments included home furnishings, kiosks and apparel. Finally, Fresh Foods were up mid single digits. Better performing departments included service deli and produce. Within the ancillary businesses, hearing aids, optical and food court had the best comp sales increases.
Gasoline price deflation negatively impacted total reported comp sales by approximately 80 basis points. The average selling price was lower year over year at $2.81 per gallon this year compared to $2.99 a year earlier. Our comp traffic or frequency for August was up 4.8% worldwide and 4.9% in the U. S. The average transaction was up 0.6% for the month, which includes the negative impacts from foreign exchange and gasoline deflation and the positive impact from revenue recognition.
Looking ahead, the September reporting period will include the 5 weeks beginning September 2nd and ending October 6th compared to the 5 weeks beginning September 3rd and ending October 7th, 2018. September sales will be released at 1:15 p. M. Pacific Time on October 9. The week prior to September sales on October 3, we will be releasing our Q4 FY 2019 earnings.
Earnings will be announced after market close that day and with a conference call to follow at 2 p. M. The call can be streamed live via our Investor Relations website. Costco currently operates 7 83 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 August 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 PM Pacific Time, Thursday,