BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. (BJ), a leading warehouse club operator in the United States, recently reported sales for the four-week period ended January 30, 2010. Sales for the month jumped 13% to $742.6 million from $656.9 million reported in the same month last year.

Comparable club sales rose 8.4% for January 2010 versus a decline of 0.7% in the same month last year. Gasoline sales positively impacted the comparable club sales during the reported month by 5.5%. However, it influenced the prior-year January sales negatively by 8.3%.

Excluding gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales climbed 2.9% versus an increase of 7.6% last year. BJ’s hinted that merchandise comparable club sales for the month under review would have increased another 2% had the Super Bowl been held in January 2010, as in 2009.

Excluding gasoline sales, traffic rose nearly 5% year-over-year in the month, whereas the average transaction amount dropped approximately 2%.

Heavy job losses and the economic slowdown have changed the way consumers used to shop. Cash-strapped consumers are now prioritizing their purchases. BJ’s Wholesale Club experienced a 4% rise in sales of food, whereas sales of general merchandise remained flat compared to last year.

By categories – apparel, breakfast foods, candy, dairy, health and beauty aids, household chemicals, houseware, juices, paper products, residential furniture, small appliances etc. reported robust sales. On the contrary, automotive and tools, pre-recorded video, sporting goods, televisions and trash bags reported sluggish sales.

BJ’s total sales for fourth-quarter 2009 jumped 9.4% to $2.74 billion, and comparable club sales rose 4.6% Incorporatedluding a 2.3% contribution from gasoline sales. For fiscal year 2009, total sales grew 1.6% to $9.95 billion, whereas comparable club sales fell 1.9% Incorporatedluding a 5.9% negative contribution from gasoline sales.

BJ’s Wholesale Club currently operates 187 clubs in 15 states.

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