ISSAQUAH, Wash., Nov 8, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation ("Costco" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of $2.83 billion for the four weeks ended November 4, 2001, an increase of 13 percent from $2.51 billion in the same four-week period of the prior fiscal year. On a comparable warehouse basis, that is warehouses open at least a year, sales increased 6 percent. Due to tobacco price increases that occurred during the four-week reporting period, the Company estimates its sales results were benefited by approximately one percent.

For the first nine weeks of its 2002 fiscal year ended November 4, 2001, the Company reported net sales of $6.09 billion, an increase of 11 percent from $5.48 billion during the comparable period of the prior fiscal year. Comparable warehouse sales for the year-to-date period increased 5 percent over the prior year's level.

Costco currently operates 375 warehouses, including 274 in the United States, 60 in Canada, 11 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 10 to 11 new warehouses (including two relocations of existing warehouses to larger and better-located facilities) prior to the end of calendar year 2001.

CONTACT:
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Richard Galanti, 425/313-8203
Bob Nelson, 425/313-8255