Baked Goods, Smokes Boost BJ’s November Sales

Sales increased by 6.4 percent to $833.6 million in November for Natick-based discount retailer BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.

In the same month last year, BJ's brought in $783.2 million. Same store sales increased by 1 percent over the same period.

The company said the first two weeks of the month were responsible for the increase. Sales decreased compared to last year during the second two weeks. Same store sales increased in New England, New York City and the Southeast, but decreased in the Mid-Atlantic region and Upstate New York.

Customer traffic increased during the month by 3 percent as the average transaction decreased by 2 percent.

Departments that reported strong results were baked goods, breakfast foods, cigarettes, computers and others.