Costco sales up in March despite economic turbulence

Costco Wholesale Corp.’s net sales increased to $25.5 billion for the retail month of March—up 8.6% from last year.

Net sales for the first 31 weeks of the fiscal year came to $158.9 billion, the company reported, up 8.3%.

Comparable sales rose 4.1% in Canada, compared to 7.5% in the U.S. and 2.9% in Other International.

The results follow a mixed Q2 performance from the retailer. Costco reported lower earnings per share than expected for its most recent quarter as it fended off macroeconmic headwinds.

On the company's second quarter earnings call, president and CEO Ron Vachris said: "It is difficult to predict the impact of tariffs, but our team remains agile and our goal will be to minimize the impact of related cost increases to our members." 

Costco said an additional shopping day in March drove comparable sales higher by around 1 to 1.5%

E-commerce sales rose 16.2%.

With files from Lynn Petrak for Progressive Grocer