BJ’s October Sales Rise Despite Falling Gas Prices

BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. of Natick reported $764.7 million in October sales for 2009, a 3.5 percent increase over the $738.9 million in sales for the same month last year.

The company also reported that same store sales for the month decreased by 1.1 percent, which it attributed to a 4.8 percent drop in gasoline sales. Excluding gasoline sales, same store merchandise sales increased by 3.7 percent.

For the company's third quarter, ended October 31, total sales increased by 2 percent from $2.4 to $2.45 billion and same store sales decreased by 2.5 percent, which the company also attributed to falling gas prices.