8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) April 25, 2006

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Washington	0-20355	91-1223280
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

999 Lake Drive

Issaquah, WA 98027

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 425-313-8100

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

The Board of Directors of the registrant declared a quarterly cash dividend of 13 cents per share of Costco Wholesale common stock, an increase over the prior quarter’s dividend of 11.5 cents per share. The dividend is payable on May 26, 2006, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 10, 2006.

(c) Exhibits. The following exhibits are included in this report:

99.1 Press release dated April 25, 2006.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
Date: April 25, 2006	By:	/s/ Richard A. Galanti
		Richard A. Galanti, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION ANNOUNCES

AN INCREASE IN ITS QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND

ISSAQUAH, Wash., April 25, 2006,—Costco Wholesale Corporation (Nasdaq: COST) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on Costco Wholesale common stock and approved an increase from $.115 to $.13 per share each quarter, or $.52 per share on an annualized basis. The dividend of $.13 per share declared today is payable May 26, 2006, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 10, 2006.

Costco currently operates 473 warehouses, including 346 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 68 in Canada, 17 in the United Kingdom, five in Korea, four in Taiwan, five in Japan and 28 in Mexico. The Company also operates Costco Online, an electronic commerce web site, at www.costco.com and at www.costco.ca in Canada. The Company plans to open an additional 17 to 19 new warehouses, including the relocation of one warehouse to a larger and better-located facility, prior to the end of its 53-week fiscal year ending on September 3, 2006.

CONTACTS:	Costco Wholesale Corporation
	Richard Galanti, 425/313-8203
	Bob Nelson, 425/313-8255
	Jeff Elliott, 425/313-8264