NATICK, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BJs Wholesale Club, Inc. (NYSE: BJ) today reported that sales for October 2009 increased by 3.5% to $764.7 million from $738.9 million in October 2008. On a comparable club basis, sales for October 2009 decreased by 1.1%, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline worth 4.8%. Excluding the negative impact from lower gasoline prices and volumes versus last year, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 3.7%. In 2008, comparable club sales for the month of October increased by 10.2%, including a contribution from gasoline sales of 3.6%.
For the third quarter ended October 31, 2009, total sales increased by 2.0% to $2.45 billion from $2.40 billion, and comparable club sales decreased by 2.5%, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 6.4%. For the third quarter ended November 1, 2008, comparable club sales increased by 11.9%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 5.3%.
For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, total sales decreased by 1.2% to $7.2 billion from $7.3 billion, and comparable club sales decreased by 4.1%, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 8.8%. For the first nine months of fiscal 2008, comparable club sales increased by 12.3%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 5.8%.
The Company provided the following additional information regarding comparable club sales for October 2009:
- Merchandise sales excluding gasoline increased in weeks one, two and four and decreased in week three.
- Excluding the negative impact of lower gasoline prices and volumes versus last year, comparable club sales increased in all major regions, with the highest increases in Metro New York and the Southeast.
- Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased by approximately 4% versus last year and the average transaction amount was approximately flat to last year.
- Sales of food increased by approximately 4% and sales of general merchandise increased by approximately 3%.
- Departments with the strongest sales increases compared to last year included candy, cereal, chemicals, cigarettes, computers, frozen, health & beauty aids, housewares, juices, paper products, pet food, produce, salty snacks, small appliances and televisions. Weaker departments versus last year included pre-recorded video, toys, trash bags and video games.
Source: BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc.