Hello, 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 four-week retail month of July, which started on Monday, July 9th, and ended on Sunday, August 5th. This period is compared to the four weeks beginning on Monday, July 10th, and ending on Sunday, August 6th, 2017. 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 four-week month of July came in at $10.59 billion, an increase of 10.1% from the $9.62 billion last year. For the first 48 weeks of fiscal 2018, net sales were $127.40 billion, an increase of 12.1% from the $113.70 billion last year. Comparable sales were as follows. On a reported basis, the U.S. for the four-week retail month, 9.7%, 48-week fiscal year, 9.4%. Canada, the four-week retail month, 3.2%, the 48-week fiscal year, 9.6%. Other international, four-week retail month, 6.3%, 48-week fiscal year, 11.5%. Total company, four-week retail month is at 8.3%, and the 48-week fiscal year, 9.7%. E-commerce, four-week retail month is 20.9%, 48-week fiscal year, 34.1%.
Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in Gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows. In the U.S., the four-week retail month was at 6.6%, 48-week fiscal year, 7.4%. In Canada, the four-week retail month was at 5.0%, the 48-week fiscal year, 4.1%. Other international, four-week retail month, 7.1%, and the 48-week fiscal year, 7.3%. Total company at four-week retail month is at 6.4%, and the 48-week fiscal year is 6.8%. E-commerce, four-week retail month, 21.6%, and the 48-week fiscal year, 33.1%. In terms of regional and merchandising categories, the general highlights for the month of July were as follows. The U.S. regions with the strongest results were the Midwest, Southeast, and San Diego. Internationally, in local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Spain, Japan, and Mexico.
E-com comp sales increases were lower relative to the year-to-date trend, as we're beginning to anniversary better results from a year ago. Foreign currencies year-over-year relative to the U.S. dollar impacted July comp sales as follows. The total company was hurt by a little less than 100 basis points. Canada was hurt approximately 400 basis points, while other international was hurt by approximately 150 basis points. The negative impact of cannibalization on total company sales in July was slightly over 50 basis points. The impact in the U.S. was slightly less than 50 basis points. Canada was impacted slightly more than 50 basis points, and our other international segment was slightly less than 100 basis points. Moving to our merchandise highlights, the following comparable sales results by category for July exclude the impact of foreign exchange. Food and sundries were positive mid-single digits.
Departments with the strongest results were tobacco, liquor, and frozen foods. Hard lines were up mid to high single digits. Better-performing departments were hardware, majors, and tires. Sales in majors were up high single digits led by appliances, computers, and tablets. Soft lines were up mid to high single digits. Better-performing departments included housewares, jewelry, and small appliances. Fresh foods were up mid-single digits. The better-performing departments were bakery and service deli. Within the ancillary businesses, Gasoline, hearing aids, and Food Court had the best comp sales increases in July. Gasoline price inflation added approximately 275 basis points to total reported comp sales. The average Gasoline price was up 26% at $2.99 this year compared to $2.38 last year. Our comp traffic or frequency for July was up 4.7% worldwide and 4.5% in the U.S.
The average transaction was up 3.4% for the month, which includes the negative impact from foreign exchange and positive impact from Gasoline price inflation. Looking ahead, the August reporting period will include the four weeks beginning August 6th and ending Sunday, September 2nd, compared to the four weeks beginning August 7th, ending Sunday, September 3rd, 2017. Sales will be announced Thursday, September 6th, after market close at 1:15 P.M. Pacific Time. September 2nd also marks the end of our 16-week fourth quarter and 52-week fiscal year 2018. Costco currently operates 757 warehouses, including 526 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 99 in Canada, 38 in Mexico, 28 in the United Kingdom, 26 in Japan, 14 in Korea, 13 in Taiwan, nine in Australia, two in Spain, one in Iceland, and one in France. Costco also operates e-com websites in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Mexico, Korea, and Taiwan.
If you have any questions regarding our July sales results or 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, August 15th. Thanks for calling, and have a great day.