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CAMP HILL, Pa. — Comparable-store sales at Rite Aid Corp. rose in May despite almost flat results in the front end.
The drug chain said Thursday that for the five weeks ended May 30, same-store sales gained 2.1% year over year. The company had reported a 3% comp-store sales increase for April.
In the front end, same-store sales inched up 0.1% in May. Comparable pharmacy sales climbed 3% for the month and reflected a negative impact of 179 basis points from introductions of new generic drugs.
Prescriptions filled at comparable stores were up 0.7% over the prior-year period.
Overall drug store sales in May advanced 2% to $2.535 billion from $2.484 billion a year earlier. Prescription sales represented 68.7% of drug store sales, the company said.
For the fiscal 2016 first quarter ended May 30, same-store sales rose 2.9% year over year, including gains of 0.6% in the front end and 3.9% in the pharmacy. Prescription count at comparable stores gained 1.6% in the quarter.
Total drug store sales for the 13-week period came in at $6.603 billion, up 2.8% from $6.425 billion a year ago. Prescription sales accounted for 69.1% of overall drug store sales.
As of May 30, Rite Aid operated 4,566 stores, compared with 4,581 stores a year earlier.
