Costco Sales Surge 18% in June, Top Estimates

Costco (NASDAQ:COST) booked an 18% improvement in sales last month from a year earlier, with the help of growth at its more established stores in the U.S. and abroad and higher gasoline prices.

The Issaquah, Wash.-based operator of warehouse clubs said total sales for the five weeks ended July 3 were $7.33 billion, including sales from its newly reached joint venture in Mexico.

Comparable-store sales for the retailer climbed 14%, led by 18% growth in international markets and 12% gains in the U.S. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting total sales at stores open at least a year to rise just 12.7%.

Excluding fuel inflation, comparable sales rose 8%.