Dallas-based convenience store giant 7-Eleven has reported a 2% increase in its US same-store merchandise sales for May 2002, on top of a 3.9% increase in May 2001.


Total merchandise sales for May 2002 were US$628.6m, an increase of 2.6% over the May 2001 total of US$612.7m.


Gasoline sales for May 2002 were US$250.3m compared to US$271.8m in the prior-year period. Sales decreased 7.9% due to a 26-cent per gallon decline in the average retail price of gasoline year-over-year. The average retail price per gallon for May 2002 was US$1.45, compared to US$1.71 in May 2001. Although sales were lower, the average gallons of gasoline sold per store increased 5.6% in May 2002 compared to the May 2001 figure.


In the year-to-date period, US same-store merchandise sales are up 3.2%, on top of a 3.7% increase for 2001. Merchandise sales are US$2.84bn, an increase of 3.7% on 2001. Gasoline sales totalled US$1.06bn, a decrease of 10.3%. Average gasoline gallons sold per store month have increased 3.5%.