ISSAQUAH, Wash., Aug 8, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of $2.96 billion for the four weeks ended August 4, 2002, an increase of 10 percent from $2.70 billion in the same four-week period of the prior fiscal year. For the first forty-eight weeks of its 2002 fiscal year ended August 4, 2002, the Company reported net sales of $34.97 billion, an increase of 11 percent from $31.40 billion during the comparable period of the prior fiscal year.

Comparable sales for the 4-week and 48-week periods ended August 4, 2002 were as follows:

                          4 Weeks          48 Weeks
                      ---------------   ---------------
US                                 6%                7%
International                      2%                2%
Total Company                      5%                6%
                      ===============   ===============

Costco currently operates 393 warehouses, including 289 in the United States, 60 in Canada, 14 in the United Kingdom, five in Korea, three in Taiwan, two in Japan and 20 in Mexico. The Company also operates Costco Online, an electronic commerce web site, at www.costco.com. The Company plans to open one new warehouse prior to the end of its 2002 fiscal year on September 1, 2002. The Company also plans to open an additional 17 to 19 new warehouses (including one relocation of an existing warehouse to a larger and better-located facility) prior to the end of calendar year 2002.

CONTACT: Costco Wholesale Corporation Richard Galanti, 425/313-8203 Jeff Elliott, 425/313-8264