Costco Tops 82 Million Members as Value Shopping Grows

More Households Are Buying In

Costco membership has climbed past 82 million paid households, a sign that warehouse-club shopping has deepened its hold on American budgets as prices stay elevated. According to CNBC, Costco reported 82.9 million paid household memberships in its fiscal third quarter of 2026, with comparable sales rising and renewal rates holding near record levels.

For many households, the math is straightforward. An annual membership fee buys access to bulk pricing on groceries and household staples, a trade that becomes more attractive when everyday costs run high. The membership growth reflects that calculation playing out across millions of families.

The Numbers Behind the Growth

Costco’s reported figures point to a loyal and expanding base. The company said comparable sales rose about 10 percent in the quarter, and CNBC reported a U.S. membership renewal rate of 92.2 percent, a level that signals members keep paying year after year rather than dropping off.

The average transaction also grew. CNBC reported that the average ticket rose 7.3 percent, indicating that members are not only renewing but spending more per visit. Together, the membership count, renewal rate, and ticket size describe a business pulling in steady, repeat traffic.

The renewal rate is the most telling figure. A membership model lives or dies on whether customers see enough value to pay again, and a rate above 92 percent suggests they do. That stickiness has insulated the warehouse-club format even as other retail segments face pressure.

Why Value Shopping Is Resonating

The growth tracks a broader consumer mood. With grocery and household costs elevated, shoppers have leaned into formats that promise savings on volume, and the warehouse club is built precisely for that. Buying staples in bulk spreads the membership cost across many purchases.

The appeal extends beyond price. Warehouse clubs have cultivated a treasure-hunt experience, where rotating stock and bulk deals turn a routine errand into something more engaging. That mix of savings and discovery has helped the format hold customers who might otherwise split their spending across multiple stores.

The membership-fee model also gives the company a steady base that does not depend on any single shopping trip. Because members pay upfront for the year, Costco collects fee revenue regardless of how often someone visits, and the high renewal rate suggests most households conclude the annual cost pays for itself. CNBC reported that comparable sales rose about 10 percent in the quarter, a sign that existing warehouses are drawing more spending rather than the growth coming only from new locations.

A Window Into Household Behavior

Costco’s figures function as a rough barometer of how Americans are managing their budgets. Rising membership and higher average tickets suggest households are consolidating spending where they perceive the best value, a behavior consistent with an environment of persistent price pressure.

Membership fees themselves have become a closely watched signal. Because the warehouse-club model depends on renewals rather than one-time visits, a renewal rate above 92 percent indicates that households continue to judge the annual cost worth paying, even as they scrutinize other spending more carefully.

The pattern is not limited to lower-income shoppers. Warehouse clubs draw across income levels, and the steady growth suggests value shopping has become a mainstream habit rather than a strategy reserved for tight budgets. The format’s breadth is part of why the membership numbers keep climbing.

Where the Numbers Land

The confirmed data describes a business in steady expansion: 82.9 million paid household memberships, comparable sales up about 10 percent, a U.S. renewal rate of 92.2 percent, and an average ticket up 7.3 percent in the fiscal third quarter of 2026, according to CNBC.

Those figures, taken together, mark Costco’s membership base at a new high while its members spend more and renew at near-record rates. The most recent reported quarter shows a value-shopping model that continues to draw households in and keep them paying.

References: Costco Cost Earnings Q1 2026 - CNBC