It's not in your head: Costco has gotten more crowded

Costco store visits have surged, while other major retailers have remained flat.

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• Costco keeps getting busier, with store visits up by more than 18% over the last seven years.
• Traffic trends at Walmart and Target are mostly flat, according to Placer.ai.
• The growth brings additional pressure on warehouses, and Costco is having to get creative with fixes.

Costco's sprawling sales floor is sometimes likened to a racetrack, but lately it can feel more like a demolition derby.