Costco Wholesale Corporation ( COST ) sustained its sales momentum, and registered a comps growth of 9%. Excluding the effects of higher gasoline prices and foreign currencies fluctuation, Costco's comparable-store sales climbed 7%. It is evident that customers remain sensitive to macroeconomic factors including high fuel and energy costs, credit availability, unemployment levels, and high household debt levels, which may affect their discretionary spending, and in turn curtail the sector's growth and profitability.