Costco Wholesale revenue comparison rises in May

ISSAQUAH, Wash. (AP) - Costco Wholesale Corp. said Thursday that revenue in stores open at least one year rose 9 percent in May.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, on average, expected revenue in stores open at least one year to rise 9.7 percent.

For the four weeks ended May 30, revenue in stores open at least one year rose 7 percent in the U.S. and 17 percent internationally.

Excluding gas price inflation and the weaker dollar, revenue in stores open at least one year rose 5 percent.

Total sales for the period rose 11 percent to $6.09 billion from $5.47 billion last year.

Revenue at stores open at least a year is a key indicator of a retailer's performance because it excludes growth at stores that open or close during the year.

Year-to-date, revenue rose 10 percent to $57.17 billion from $52.15 billion last year.

The Memorial Day holiday fell in the reporting month of May last year but not this year, helping sales by about 2 percent.