- Costco Wholesale Corp. reported that March same store sales were up eight percent over a year ago, with total sales for the five-week period reaching $3.88 billion, up from $3.46 billion a year earlier.
- Wal-Mart de Mexico SA (Walmex) reported that March same-store sales grew 1.6 percent compared to a year ago, and that total sales rose to the equivalent of $854 million (US).
- Japanese retailer Ito-Yokado announced that its annual net profit for the year ended February 28 was down 60 percent to the equivalent of $175 million (US). Sales were up 5.1 percent to $27.9 billion (US). The company blamed the cost of remodelings and store closures for the profit drop.
Meanwhile, Seven-Eleven Japan, which is half owned by Ito Yokado, reported a 1.4 percent net profit increase and said it plans 700 new stores this year, bringing its total fleet count to more than 10,000.
