Costco's aisles are more packed than ever — and 34-cent gas savings and 21% cheaper groceries explain why

Costco's aisles are more packed than ever — and 34-cent gas savings and 21% cheaper groceries explain why Martin Chavez / Getty Images Tara Losinski Thu, May 28, 2026 at 11:35 AM GMT+2 4 min read COST Is the check-out line feeling longer than ever at Costco? You're not imagining it. According to a new report from market research firm Placer.

ai, (1) shopping trips to the warehouse club retailer have increased 18. 1% between the first quarters of 2019 and 2026. That gain came over a period that also saw a crackdown on membership sharing (2), an increase in membership pricing (3) and the chain shutting its food court doors to the general public (4).

So foot traffic is up, but data also suggests Costco has also broadened its customer base. In an email to Moneywise, Placer. ai's (5) director of research Elizabeth Lafontaine attributed the retailer's focus on lower prices, higher quality and becoming a "one-stop-shop" for the growth.

"Costco has centered its in-store experience on meeting shoppers' needs, which has increased loyalty and attracted new, younger members," Lafontaine told Moneywise. Must Read Here’s how to get rich from rising US property values with as little as $100 — and without the stress of angry tenants Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year and begs investors not to miss this ‘explosion’ Millionaires under 43 are reshaping investing — just 25% of their portfolios are in stocks. Here’s where their money is going Membership grows as Americans look for relief Costco's member growth comes as many Americans look for ways to cut costs.

The all-item Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 1% in March (6), and is up 3. 3% from the previous year. Meanwhile, food prices also increased in March, although slightly, up 0.

1% from February, but are now 2. 7% higher than last year. When Consumer Reports recently investigated which major retailers offered consumers the best value on groceries, as compared to the national average, Walmart and Costco came out on top, at 21.

4% less (7). That savings may help explain why membership is up, despite the program costing more now. In September 2024, the warehouse club increased (8) Gold membership prices from $60 to $65, while the Executive membership tier went up from $120 to $130.

As The Street reported (9), during the retailer's recent Q2 earnings call, Costco CFO Gary Millerchip reported that executive memberships were up 9. 5% from last year, with a total of 40. 4 million members, while total membership had reached 82.

1 million, a 4. 8% increase from Q2 2025. "By raising the 'cost of commitment,'" Placer.

ai (10) analyst Lila Margalit writes, "Costco may be discouraging casual or opportunistic users while deepening engagement among shoppers who do the math and shop more frequently to justify the fee. " Story Continues Read More: Taxes are going to change under Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ — 4 reasons you can’t afford to waste time Gas discounts can't be discounted It's not just food on which consumers are looking to save these days. The national average gas price in the US just increased 25 cents a gallon for the second straight week, now sitting at $4.

54, according to AAA (11). And, you may have guessed, Costco members can also find some of the best deals there, too. MarketWatch, with data from the Oil Price Information Service, recently found the cheapest gas prices at warehouse club pumps — with Costco offering the lowest, 34 cents less than the national average (as of mid-April) (12).

During the recent earnings call, Millerchip said Costco has in fact seen higher gas sale volumes amid rising prices, according to The Street (13), with the news outlet reporting lines are now common at Costco pumps, particularly around peak shopping hours. The company is also reported to be venturing into stand-alone gas stations, the first of which will open in Mission Viejo, California, later this year (14). With the potential to save more than 30 cents a gallon on gas, and more than 20% on groceries, waiting a little longer in line may be well worth it for Costco members — and may draw more consumers to become members.

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For details, see our ethics and guidelines . Placer. ai (1) , (5) , (10) ; NPR (2) ; Costco Investor Relations (3) , (8) ; The Street (4) , (9) , (13) ; USDA Economic Research Service (6) ; Consumer Reports (7) ; AAA (11) ; MarketWatch (12) ; C-Store Dive (14) This article originally appeared on Moneywise.

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