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 4 week retail month of July, which started on Monday, July 9 and ended on Sunday, August 5. This period is compared to the 4 weeks beginning on Monday, July 10 and ending on Sunday, August 6, 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 4 week month of July came in at 10 point $59,000,000,000 an increase of 10.1 percent from the $9,620,000,000 last year. For the 1st 48 weeks of fiscal 2018, net sales were $127,410,000,000 an increase of 12.1 percent from the $113,701,000,000 last year.
Comparable sales were as follows. On a reported basis, the U. S. For the 4 weeks retail month, 9.7%, 48 week fiscal year, 9.4% Canada, the 4 week retail month, 3.2%, the 48 week fiscal year, 9.6% Other International, 4 week retail month, 6.3% 48 week fiscal year 11.5%. Total company 4 week retail month is at 8.3% and the 48 week fiscal year 9.7%.
E commerce 4 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 4 week retail month was a 6.6%, 48 week fiscal year 7.4%. In Canada, the 4 week retail month was a 5.0%, the 48 week fiscal year 4.1%.
Other international, 4 week retail month 7.1% and the 48 week fiscal year 7.3%. Total company, a 4 week retail month is at 6.4% and the 48 week fiscal year 6.8%. E commerce, 4 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. Ecom 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. Hardlines were up mid to high single digits. Better performing departments were hardware, majors and tires. Sales and majors were up high single digits led by appliances, computers and tablets. Softlines 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 2 75 basis points to total reported comp sales.
The average selling 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 4 weeks beginning August 6 and ending Sunday, September 2, compared to the 4 weeks beginning in August 7 ending Sunday, September 3, 2017.
Sales will be announced Thursday, September 6, after market close at 1:15 Pacific Time. September 2 also marks the end of our 16 week 4th quarter 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, 9 in Australia, 2 in Spain, 1 in Iceland and 1 in France. Costco also operates ecom 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 Damon at 425-313-8254 or myself, David Sherwood at 425-313-8239. This recording will be available until 5 pm Pacific Time, Wednesday, August 15th. Thanks for calling and have a great day.