Comparable club sales increased in all major regions, with the highest increases in upstate New York and Metro New York, and the lowest increase in the Southeast region.
Excluding sales of gasoline, the average transaction amount for the month of July increased by approximately 4 percent and traffic decreased by approximately 4 percent.
On a comparable club basis, food sales increased by approximately 2 percent and general merchandise sales decreased by approximately 2 percent. Categories with strong comparable club sales increases compared to last year included air conditioners, beverages, electronics, luggage, paper products, produce and summer seasonal. Weaker categories versus last year included apparel, books, jewelry and DVDs. The decrease in book sales was due in part to last year's strong sales of a new Harry Potter book in July.
For the month of August 2006, the Company expects comparable club sales to increase 1 percent to 2 percent, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 0 percent to 0.5 percent. For the month of August last year, the Company reported a comparable club sales increase of 5.6 percent, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 3.4 percent.
BJ's introduced the wholesale club concept to New England in 1984, and has since expanded to become a leading warehouse chain in the eastern United States. The Company currently operates 165 BJ's clubs and two ProFoods Restaurant supply clubs.