However, the comparison between Costco Wholesale's adjusted EPS and the analysts' estimates may have been skewed by the implementation of the U.S. tax reform bill during the quarter. Excluding exchange rate fluctuations and gasoline price inflation, Costco still would have posted a strong 6.6% comp sales increase for the first 26 weeks of the fiscal year. Indeed, Costco could be a net beneficiary of a tighter labor market, if higher paychecks lead to increased consumer spending.