Costco's Core Comparable Sales Grew 6.0% in May, Showing a Slight Slowdown

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) reported a 4.3% rise in comparable sales for May, with US sales up 4.1%, Canadian sales rising 3.3%, and international sales increasing 6.3%.

Online sales jumped 11.6% for the month. Sales of food and sundries rose by mid-to-high single digits, while fresh food saw high single-digit growth. However, ancillary sales declined.

Excluding the effects of fuel and currency fluctuations, comparable sales rose 6.0% in May, including a 5.5% gain in the US, both slightly below April’s growth rate.

Overall sales for the month totaled $20.97 billion, up 6.8% year over year.

Analysts at JPMorgan believe Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)'s comparable sales growth may face some pressure in the coming months, as the company moves past the strong demand it saw from its popular gold bars, which often sold out quickly. Although Costco slightly exceeded expectations in its fiscal third-quarter results, other analysts noted that the retailer remains well-positioned to handle challenges related to tariffs.

COST has surged by over 11% since the start of 2025.

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