US convenience store chain 7-Eleven has reported a 16.8% rise in May sales.


Total May 2004 sales were US$1.09bn, compared to the May 2003 total of $0.93bn. Total merchandise sales for May 2004 were $699.5m, an increase of 7.8% from May 2003.


US same-store merchandise sales for May 2004 increased 7.8%, on top of a 4.0% increase in May 2003. Merchandise sales exclude sales of petrol.


Dallas, Texas-based 7-Eleven operates or franchises around 5,800 stores in the United States and Canada and licenses approximately 20,500 7-Eleven stores in 17 other countries and US territories throughout the world.