v2.4.0.6
Quarterly Financial Data (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 06, 2012
Feb. 12, 2012
Nov. 20, 2011
May 08, 2011
Feb. 13, 2011
Nov. 21, 2010
Sep. 02, 2012
Aug. 28, 2011
Sep. 02, 2012
Aug. 28, 2011
Aug. 29, 2010
REVENUE                      
Net sales $ 21,849 $ 22,508 $ 21,181 $ 20,188 $ 20,449 $ 18,823 $ 31,524 $ 27,588 $ 97,062 $ 87,048 $ 76,255
Membership fees 475 459 447 435 426 416 694 590 2,075 1,867 1,691
Total revenue 22,324 22,967 21,628 20,623 20,875 19,239 32,218 28,178 99,137 88,915 77,946
OPERATING EXPENSES                      
Merchandise costs 19,543 20,139 18,931 18,067 [1] 18,235 [1] 16,757 28,210 [2] 24,680 [1] 86,823 77,739 67,995
Selling, general and administrative 2,152 2,178 2,144 [3] 1,992 2,040 1,945 3,044 2,714 9,518 8,691 7,848
Preopening expenses 6 6 10 8 4 12 15 22 37 46 26
Operating income 623 644 543 556 596 525 949 762 2,759 2,439 2,077
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)                      
Interest expense (19) (27) (27) (27) (27) (26) (22) (36) (95) (116) (111)
Interest income and other, net 18 10 37 5 4 5 38 46 103 60 88
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 622 627 553 534 573 504 965 772 2,767 2,383 2,054
Provision for income taxes 217 215 225 [4] 193 204 172 343 272 1,000 841 731
Net income including noncontrolling interests 405 412 328 341 369 332 622 500 1,767 1,542 1,323
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (19) (18) (8) (17) (21) (20) (13) (22) (58) (80) (20)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO $ 386 $ 394 $ 320 $ 324 $ 348 $ 312 $ 609 $ 478 $ 1,709 $ 1,462 $ 1,303
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO:                      
Basic $ 0.89 $ 0.91 $ 0.74 $ 0.74 $ 0.80 $ 0.72 $ 1.41 $ 1.09 $ 3.94 $ 3.35 $ 2.97
Diluted $ 0.88 $ 0.90 $ 0.73 $ 0.73 $ 0.79 $ 0.71 $ 1.39 $ 1.08 $ 3.89 $ 3.30 $ 2.92
Shares used in calculation (000's)                      
Basic 433,791 434,535 434,222 436,977 436,682 434,099 432,437 436,596 433,620 436,119 438,611
Diluted 439,166 439,468 440,615 443,570 443,186 441,360 438,344 443,518 439,373 443,094 445,970
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE $ 0.000 [5] $ 0.240 $ 0.240 $ 0.240 $ 0.205 $ 0.205 $ 0.550 [6] $ 0.240 $ 1.03 $ 0.89 $ 0.77
[1] Includes a $6, $49 and $32 increase to merchandise costs for a LIFO inventory adjustment for the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively (see Note 1-Merchandise Inventories).
[2] Includes a $12 increase to merchandise costs for a LIFO inventory adjustment (see Note 1-Merchandise Inventories).
[3] Includes a $17 charge to selling, general and administrative for contributions to an initiative reforming alcohol beverage laws in Washington State.
[4] Includes a $24 charge relating to the settlement of an income tax audit in Mexico (See Note 9-Income Taxes).
[5] On May 9, 2012, subsequent to the end of the third quarter of 2012, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.275 per share.
[6] Our current quarterly dividend rate is $0.275 per share.