SEGMENTS

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2011

SEGMENTS [Abstract]

SEGMENTS

NOTE 18 - SEGMENTS

The Company and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the international operation of membership shopping warehouse clubs in 13 countries/territories that are located in Latin America and the Caribbean.  In addition, the Company operates distribution centers and corporate offices in the United States.  The Company's reportable segments are based on management's organization of these locations into operating segments by general geographic location, used by management in setting up management lines of responsibility, providing support services, and making operational decisions and assessments of financial performance.  The Company's operating segments are the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.  Segment amounts are presented after converting to U.S. dollars and consolidating eliminations.  Certain revenues and operating costs included in the United States segment have not been allocated, as it is impractical to do so.  

As of August 31, 2010, the Company changed the "Central America" operating segment to the "Latin America" operating segment to reflect the inclusion of Colombia within the general geographic area of the Company's operations.

	United States Operations			Latin American Operations			Caribbean Operations			Reconciling Items(1)			Total
Twelve-Month Period Ended August 31, 2011
Revenue from external customers	$	8,892		$	1,081,830		$	623,525		$	-		$	1,714,247
Intersegment revenues		638,684			-			4,875			(643,559	)		-
Depreciation and amortization(2)		(1,171	)		(11,683	)		(8,300	)		-			(21,154	)
Operating income		25,224			49,499			16,157			-			90,880
Interest income from external sources		117			624			111			-			852
Interest income from intersegment sources		2,946			1,076			290			(4,312	)		-
Interest expense from external sources		(77	)		(2,648	)		(1,191	)		-			(3,916	)
Interest expense from intersegment sources		-			(1,164	)		(3,148	)		4,312			-
Provision for income taxes(3)		(5,357	)		(18,539	)		(3,572	)		-			(27,468	)
Net income attributable to PriceSmart		22,753			30,471			8,526			-			61,750
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		38,601			192,594			123,356			-			354,551
Goodwill		-			32,152			5,209			-			37,361
Investment in Equity Method Investees		-			8,063			-			-			8,063
Identifiable assets		63,154			388,325			212,849			-			664,328
Capital expenditures, net		4,979			28,940			13,114			-			47,033
Twelve-Month Period Ended August 31, 2010
Revenue from external customers	$	4,199		$	856,994		$	534,698		$	-		$	1,395,891
Intersegment revenues		487,042			-			3,923			(490,965	)		-
Depreciation and amortization		(953	)		(8,341	)		(5,966	)		-			(15,260	)
Operating income		16,243			41,967			16,683			-			74,893
Interest income from external sources		135			306			112			-			553
Interest income from intersegment sources		3,378			1,057			417			(4,852	)		-
Interest expense from external sources		(28	)		(2,288	)		(407	)		-			(2,723	)
Interest expense from intersegment sources		(120	)		(1,900	)		(2,832	)		4,852			-
Provision for income taxes		(6,742	)		(11,466	)		(4,579	)		-			(22,787	)
Net income attributable to PriceSmart		12,882			27,294			9,139			-			49,315
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		27,484			173,968			119,635			-			321,087
Goodwill		-			32,247			5,224			-			37,471
Investment in Equity Method Investees		-			8,091			-			-			8,091
Identifiable assets		65,635			305,429			201,501			-			572,565
Capital expenditures, net		4,283			15,400			30,524			-			50,207
Twelve- Month Period Ended August 31, 2009
Revenue from external customers	$	3,740		$	741,133		$	506,755		$	-		$	1,251,628
Intersegment revenues		409,840			-			3,349			(413,189	)		-
Depreciation and amortization		(983	)		(7,830	)		(5,085	)		-			(13,898	)
Operating income		3,823			32,601			21,060			-			57,484
Interest income from external sources		148			186			123			-			457
Interest income from intersegment sources		3,769			824			-			(4,593	)		-
Interest expense from external sources		(29	)		(692	)		(979	)		-			(1,700	)
Interest expense from intersegment sources		(126	)		(2,778	)		(1,689	)		4,593			-
Provision for income taxes		(2,128	)		(9,059	)		(1,882	)		-			(13,069	)
Net income attributable to PriceSmart		5,690			20,879			15,750			-			42,319
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		27,309			159,607			94,737			-			281,653
Goodwill		-			32,394			5,144			-			37,538
Investment in Equity Method Investees		-			7,658			-			-			7,658
Identifiable assets		43,544			277,481			166,348			-			487,373
Capital expenditures, net		1,948			26,080			21,319			-			49,347
(1)  The reconciling items reflect the amount eliminated on consolidation of intersegment transactions.
(2)   Includes a $2.6 million error that increased expense in the Latin America operations related to prior periods.  See Note 1 - Company Overview and Basis of Presentation.
(3)   Includes a $3.2 million error that decreased expense in the United States operations related to prior periods.  See Note 1 - Company Overview and Basis of Presentation.