For the four weeks ended Dec. 27, same-store sales at Rite Aid rose 5.3% year over year, up slightly from 5.1% in November. The December increase continued the comp-store momentum since the end of the summer, as the drug chain posted monthly gains of at least 5% through the close of the calendar year.
In December, same-store sales edged up 1.7% in the front end. Comparable pharmacy sales increased 7.3%, reflecting a negative impact of 123 basis points from introductions of new generic drugs.
Prescription count at comparable stores gained 5.1% during December.
Rite Aid reported that overall December sales totaled $2.212 billion, up 4.9% from $2.109 billion a year earlier. Prescription sales represented 64.8% of drug store sales.
For the 43 weeks ended Dec. 27, same-store sales were up 4.3% versus the prior-year period, including gains of 1% in the front end and 5.9% in the pharmacy. Prescriptions filled at comparable stores gained 3.6%.
Total drug store sales for the 43 weeks advanced 3.9% to $21.762 billion from $20.953 billion a year ago. Prescription sales accounted for 68.6% of drug store sales in the period.
As of Dec. 27, Rite Aid operated 4,570 drug stores, compared with 4,592 stores a year earlier.
