Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
SINEGAL JAMES D
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW [COST]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
President and CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
999 LAKE DRIVE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/26/2009
(Street)

ISSAQUAH, WA 98027
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 03/26/2009   M   200,000 A $ 44.9688 856,549 D  
Common Stock 03/26/2009   S   200,000 D (1) 656,549 D  
Common Stock               1,396,594 I By LLC
Common Stock               30,681 I By GRAT
Common Stock               30,681 I By Spouse's GRAT

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option $ 44.9688 03/26/2009   M     200,000 04/01/1999 04/01/2009 Common Stock 200,000 $ 44.9688 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
SINEGAL JAMES D
999 LAKE DRIVE
ISSAQUAH, WA 98027
  X     President and CEO  

Signatures

 Deanna K. Nakashima, attorney-in-fact   03/26/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Shares sold as: 7833 @ 48.2200 50000 @ 48.2400 2610 @ 48.2500 5973 @ 48.2600 1805 @ 48.2700 2338 @ 48.2800 2782 @ 48.2900 2000 @ 48.3000 489 @ 48.3100 600 @ 48.3200 4200 @ 48.3300 1700 @ 48.3400 3500 @ 48.3500 3700 @ 48.3600 900 @ 48.3700 500 @ 48.3800 12298 @ 48.4000 4801 @ 48.4100 1300 @ 48.4200 1200 @ 48.4300 2401 @ 48.4400 18200 @ 48.4500 5800 @ 48.4600 700 @ 48.4700 500 @ 48.4800 19041 @ 48.5000 8206 @ 48.5100 15192 @ 48.5200 2821 @ 48.5300 900 @ 48.5400 1400 @ 48.5500 5210 @ 48.5600 5100 @ 48.5700 1227 @ 48.5800 373 @ 48.5900 640 @ 48.6000 1460 @ 48.6100 300 @ 48.6200

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