BJ's Oct. sales comparison slips on gasoline sales

NATICK, Mass. (AP) — Discount retailer BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. said Thursday its sales at stores open at least a year fell 1.1 percent in October, citing a decline in gasoline sales.

The drop was larger than the 0.3 percent expected by analysts, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters. Total sales for the month rose 3.5 percent to $764.7 million.

Sales at stores open at least a year are a key measure of retailer performance because they measure growth at existing stores rather than from newly opened ones. BJ's said they would have risen 3.7 percent, excluding the impact of lower gasoline sales.

For the third quarter ended Oct. 31, total sales rose 2 percent to $2.5 billion, matching analysts' expectations.

Sales at stores open at least a year fell 2.5 percent for the quarter.