Costco's key revenue figure rises in October

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s revenue at stores open at least a year climbed 6 percent in October as international results improved in part because of the weaker dollar.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a smaller 4.6 percent increase.

This figure is a key indicator of a retailer's health because it measures results at existing stores rather than newly opened ones.

In the U.S., Costco's revenue at stores open at least a year increased 4 percent. That figure surged 14 percent internationally.

Excluding the impact of gasoline prices and the softer dollar, U.S. results rose 3 percent and international results climbed 10 percent.

The wholesale club operator said Thursday that total sales for October rose 11 percent to $6.3 billion. The monthly results included sales from Costco's Mexico joint venture.

Last month Costco reported that its fourth-quarter net income rose nearly 16 percent on increased revenue from membership fees and international operations.

Costco currently runs 577 warehouses, including 420 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 80 in Canada, 22 in the U.K., seven in Korea, six in Taiwan, nine in Japan, one in Australia and 32 in Mexico.