Costco sales increase 12% in March

ISSAQUAH, Wash. Sales at club retailer Costco have continued to be on an upswing, according to monthly sales results announced Thursday.

The Issaquah, Wash.-based mass merchandiser reported global net sales of $7.14 billion in March, a 12% increase over $6.4 billion in March 2009. For the 31-week period that ended on Wednesday, the company reported sales of $45.2 billion, a 9% increase over the $41.48 billion during the same period last year. Costco’s fiscal year 2009 ended on Aug. 30.

The economic recession put a dent in Costco’s U.S. sales last year, as the company reported sales of $56.5 billion, compared with $57 billion in 2008. But as consumers have started pulling their wallets back out of their pockets, the retailer’s sales have increased as well. The company reported global second quarter 2010 sales of $18.36 billion and sales for the first half of the year of $35.28 billion, compared with $16.49 billion and $32.52 billion during the same periods last year, respectively.