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 December, which started on Monday, December 3 and ended on Sunday, January 6. This period is compared to the 5 weeks beginning on Monday, December 4 and ending on Sunday, January 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 these statements except as required by law. Now with regards to sales. As reported in our release, net sales for the 5 week month of December came in at $15,420,000,000 an increase of 7.8 percent from the $14,300,000,000 last year. For the 18 weeks ended January 6, net sales came in at $52,990,000,000 an increase of 9.5% from $48,390,000,000 last year.
Comparable sales were as follows. On a reported basis, in the U. S, the 5 weeks was at 7.5 percent for the 18 weeks, 10.0 percent in Canada, the 5 weeks was at 2.0 percent 18 weeks, 2.1 percent other international, the 5 weeks is at 2.8 percent 18 weeks, 3.3 percent total company, 5 weeks, 6.1 percent 18 weeks, 7.9%. E commerce for the 5 weeks was 13.6% and 18 weeks, 27.9%. As discussed in previous months, the company adopted a revenue recognition standard ASC 606 for fiscal 'nineteen.
The impact on the total company in December was a benefit of approximately 40 basis points for both U. S. And the total company. For e comm, the impact resulted in a detriment of approximately 9%, the inverse of which occurred in November, as mentioned on the call last month. Comparable sales excluding impacts from changes in gasoline prices, foreign exchange and revenue recognition were as follows: In the U.
S, the 5 weeks was a 7.1 percent 18 weeks, 8.0 percent in Canada, the 5 weeks was 8.1 percent 18 weeks, 6.0 percent other international, the 5 weeks was a 5 point 7%, 18 weeks, 5.5 percent. And total company, the 5 weeks was a 7.0%, 18 weeks was 7.3%. For e commerce, the 5 weeks was at 23.9% and 18 weeks was 27.0%. In terms of regional and merchandising categories, the general highlights for the month were as follows. The U.
S. Regions with the strongest results were the Midwest, San Diego and the Northwest. Internationally, in local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Spain, Mexico and Japan. Foreign currencies year over year relative to the U. S.
Dollar hurt December comp sales as follows: Canada by approximately 580 basis points other international by approximately 350 basis points and total company by approximately 130 basis points. The negative impact of cannibalization was approximately 50 basis points in the U. S, 65 basis points in Canada, 115 basis points in other international and 65 basis points for the total company. Moving to our merchandise highlights. The following comparable sales results by category for December exclude the impact of foreign exchange.
Foods and sundries were positive mid to high single digits. Departments with the strongest results were candy, tobacco and sundries. Hardlines were positive in the mid single digits. Better performing departments were toys and seasonal, sporting goods and majors. Softlines were up mid to high single digits.
Better performing departments included special order kiosks, apparel and housewares. Fresh foods were up mid to high single digits, better performing departments included meat and service deli. Within the ancillary businesses, gasoline, food court and optical had the best comp sales increases. Gasoline price was unchanged year over year with an average selling price of $2.59 both years. Our comp traffic or frequency for December was up 5.6% both worldwide and in the U.
S. The average transaction was up 0.5% for the month, which includes the negative impact from foreign exchange and positive impact from revenue recognition. Looking ahead, the January reporting period will include the 4 weeks beginning January 7 and ending February 3 compared to the 4 weeks beginning January 8, ending February 4, 2018. SIM will be announced Wednesday, February 6th, after market close at 1:15 Pacific Time. Costco currently operates 768 warehouses, including 533 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 100 in Canada, 39 in Mexico, 28 in the United Kingdom, 26 in Japan, 15 in Korea, 13 in Taiwan, 10 in Australia, 2 in Spain and 1 each in Iceland and France.
Costco also operates e commerce websites in the United States, Canada, U. K, Mexico, Korea and Taiwan. If you have any questions regarding our December sales results or any other 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, January 16th. Thanks for calling Costco. Have a great day.