Issaquah, Wash. – Home furnishings and housewares performed well at Costco Wholesale during the holiday quarter, both in clubs and online.
During the company’s second fiscal quarter, which ended Feb. 16, consolidated company comp growth was strongest in non-food merchandise – up in the mid-teens. Categories that generated double-digit comp growth included home furnishings, housewares, big-ticket consumer electronics, jewelry and toys.
Home furnishings and housewares were also among the leading categories online as Costco’s consolidated e-commerce comp jumped 20.9% in the quarter. Other top performing categories online included gold and jewelry, small electronics, hardware, sporting goods and toys.
Total net sales for the quarter climbed 9.1% to $62.53 billion. Consolidated comp – excluding the impacts from fuel and foreign exchange – were up 9.1%.
Comp sales in the U.S., excluding the same impacts, were up 8.6%. Traffic was up 5.6% and ticket was up 2.8%.
During the company’s investor review call, executives said Costco members continue to spend on quality, value and newness, but are being selective about how they do so.
Asked about the President Trump’s tariff plans, CEO Ron Vachris noted that the situation appears to be fluid right now.
“As we say, when it rains it rains on everyone,” he added. “Our people are nimble and they’re ready to go at it if they have to.”
Imports account for roughly one-third of merchandise sales at Costco U.S., according to CFO Gary Millerchip. Less than half of sales are tied to merchandise from China, Mexico and Canada.
