Costco’s March sales rise above expectations

Costco Wholesale reported stronger-than-expected sales for March.

The warehouse club retailer said that sales rose 17.6% to $18.21 billion in March, from $15.49 billion in the year-ago period. The 2021 five-week retail month had one fewer shopping day versus last year due to the calendar shift of the Easter holiday, Costco said.

Total same-store sales increased 16%, with a 13.9% increase in the United States. Comparable online sales jumped 57.7%.

The retailer said same-store sales rose 16%, including a 13.9% rise for U.S. comparable-store sales. Online sales jumped 57.7%.

For the thirty-one weeks ended April 4, 2021, Costco reported net sales of $111.37 billion, an increase of 15.7% from the year-ago period. Total comp sales for the period increased 14.1%.

Costco currently operates 807 locations, including 559 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 104 in Canada, 39 in Mexico, 29 in the United Kingdom, 28 in Japan, 16 in Korea, 14 in Taiwan, 12 in Australia, three in Spain, and one each in Iceland, France, and China.

This story originally appeared on Chain Store Age.