Jan 10, 2005 8:56 AM, from staff and wire reports

BJ's Wholesale Club Inc reported that sales for December 2004 increased by 9.0% to $924.4 million from $847.8 million in December 2003. On a comparable club basis, sales rose by 5.6% for December including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 1.4%. In December, 2003, the company reported a comparable club sales increase of 6.6% including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 1%.

Mike Wedge, president and chief executive officer of BJ’s, said, “Comparable club sales results for the month of December reflect continued strength in food and gasoline sales partially offset by soft general merchandise sales. We ended the month with a very clean inventory position.”