Hello and thank you for calling Costco Wholesale Corporation. I'm David Sherwood, AVP of Finance and Investor Relations and I will review with you our sales results for the 5 week retail month of January, which started on Monday, January 1 and ended on Sunday, February 4. This period is compared to the 5 weeks beginning on Monday, January 2, 2017 and ended on Sunday, February 5, 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 month of January came in at $12,240,000,000 an increase of 8.4 percent from the $11,290,000,000 last year. For the 1st 22 weeks of fiscal year 2018, the company reported net sales of $58,300,000,000 an increase of 11.6 percent from the $52,260,000,000 over the 1st 22 weeks of fiscal year 2017.
This year's 5 week January retail month had 1 fewer shopping day versus last year due to the calendar shift of New Year's Day. This negatively impacted total and comparable January sales by approximately minus 3%. The 22 week fiscal year to date was not impacted. Additionally, Lunar New YearChinese New Year will occur in February this year as compared to January last year, negatively impacting January sales by approximately -3.5 percent for other international and minus 0.5% for total company. Comparable sales for the 10 weeks of December January combined will be provided in a moment, eliminating the impact of the New Year's shift.
Keep in mind the 10 week December January reporting period sales were also negatively impacted by Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year by approximately -1.75 percent for other international and -0.25 percent for total company. Comparable sales were as follows. For the 5 week retail month in the U. S, it was a 4.9%, for the 10 week December January retail month, 7.9% and the 22 week fiscal year 8.2%. In Canada, 5 week retail month 8.3%, 10 week December, January 10.2% and the 22 week fiscal year, 10.0.
Other international, 5 week retail month, 9.8 10 week December, January, 13.6 22 week fiscal year, 11.2 percent. Total company in 5 week retail month is 6.0 percent, 10 week December, January 8.9 percent and 22 week fiscal year 8.8 percent. E Commerce 5 week retail month 34.8 10 week December, January combined 33.9 22 week fiscal year 31.2 Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows. In the U. S, the 5 week retail month was at 3.6 10 week December, January 6.6 22 week fiscal year 6.7 percent.
In Canada, the 5 week retail month is 1.3 percent. This is the 10 week December, January is 3.9 and the 22 week fiscal year 3.3. Other international, 5 week retail month of 0.6, 10 week December, January is 5.4 and the 22 week fiscal year 6.3. Total company 5 week retail month is 2.9, 10 weeks of December, January combined 6.0 and 22 week fiscal year 6.1. Lastly, e commerce, 5 weeks retail month 32.9% December, January combined, 32.5% and 22 week fiscal year, 29.20 In terms of regional and merchandising categories, the general highlights for the month of January were as follows.
The U. S. Regions with the strongest results were in the Northwest, Midwest and Southeast. Internationally, in local currencies, we saw the strongest results in Japan, Mexico and the U. K.
Foreign currencies year over year relative to the U. S. Dollar impacted our reported January comp sales as follows: Total company benefited approximately +200basispoints. Canada was helped approximately plus 625 basis points, while other international was helped by approximately plus 900 basis points. The impact of cannibalization on total company sales in January was approximately minus 50 basis points.
The impact in the U. S. Was approximately minus 50 basis points. Canada was impacted approximately minus 150 basis points. Our other international segment was negatively impacted by approximately minus 50 basis points.
Moving to our merchandise highlights, the following comparable sales results by category for January exclude the impact of foreign exchange. Food and sundries comparable sales for the month were positive low single digits. Departments with the strongest results were tobacco, sundries and cooler. Comp sales results for hardlines were up mid single digits year over year. Better performing departments were seasonal, sporting goods and majors.
Majors were up low teens led by appliances and computers. Softlines were up low single digits. Better performing departments included jewelry, apparel and home furnishings. Fresh foods were up low single digits. The better performing departments were bakery and produce.
Within the ancillary businesses, gasoline, hearing aids and pharmacy had the best comp sales increases in January. Gasoline prices were higher year over year and had approximately plus 110 basis point positive impact on total reported comp sales. The average selling price was up 11% at $2.63 this year compared to $2.37 last year. Our comp traffic or frequency for January was up 1.1% worldwide and 1.3% in the U. S.
These results include the detriment from the holiday shifts as discussed earlier. For December and January combined, comp traffic was up 4% for both the U. S. And worldwide. Although those were still marginally impacted by the Lunar Chinese New Year shift.
The average transaction was up plus 4.8% for the month, which includes the combined impacts from foreign exchange and gasoline price inflation as provided earlier. The February reporting period will include the 4 weeks beginning on February 5, 2018 and ended on Sunday, March 4, 2018 compared to the 4 weeks beginning on February 6, 2017, ending on Sunday, March 5, 2017. We plan to announce our February sales results in conjunction with our Q2 FY 2018 earnings after market close on Wednesday, March 7 at 1:15 Pacific Time. A call to discuss the results will be held shortly after at 2 p. M.
Pacific Time and can be streamed live via our Investor Relations website. Costco currently operates 746 warehouses worldwide, including 518 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 98 in Canada, 37 in Mexico, 28 in the United Kingdom, 26 in Japan, 13 in Korea, 13 in Taiwan, 9 in Australia, 2 in Spain, 1 in Iceland and 1 in France. Costco also operates electronics e commerce websites in the U. S, Canada, U. K, Mexico, Korea and Taiwan.
If you have any questions regarding our January 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, Damon Sherwood at 425-313-8239. This recording will be available until 5 pm Pacific Time, Wednesday, February 14. Thanks for calling and have a great day.