N@N

Rite Aid Reports 0.2 Percent Same Store Sales Decrease for December

_{//stocks-investing.news-articles.net/content/200 .. cent-same-store-sales-decrease-for-december.html}
^{Published in Stocks and Investing on Monday, January 5th 2009 at 6:06 GMT, Last Modified on 2009-01-05 06:07:08 by Market Wire}  

CAMP HILL, Pa.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) today announced sales results for December.

Monthly Sales

For the four weeks ended December 27, 2008, same store sales decreased 0.2 percent over the prior-year period. Front-end same store sales decreased 2.4 percent while pharmacy same store sales, which included an approximate 301 basis point negative impact from new generic introductions, were up 1.2 percent.

For the four weeks ended December 27, 2008, same store sales excluding the acquired Brooks Eckerd stores increased 0.5 percent over the prior-year period with front-end same store sales decreasing 2.7 percent and pharmacy same store sales increasing 2.9 percent.

For the four weeks ended December 27, 2008, same store sales at the acquired Brooks Eckerd stores declined 1.6 percent over the prior-year period with front-end same store sales decreasing 1.5 percent and pharmacy same store sales decreasing 1.6 percent.

Total drugstore sales for the four-week period decreased 2.1 percent to $2.155 billion compared to $2.201 billion for the same period last year. Prescription revenue accounted for 62.5 percent of drugstore sales, and third party prescription revenue represented 96.4 percent of pharmacy sales.

Year-to-Date Sales

Same store sales for the 43-week period ended December 27, 2008 increased 1.0 percent, consisting of a 1.4 percent front-end same store sales increase and a 0.8 percent increase in pharmacy same store sales. Year-to-date same store sales include 30 weeks of the acquired Brooks Eckerd stores.

Total drugstore sales for the 43 weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased 9.9 percent to $21.658 billion from $19.710 billion in last year's like period. Prescription revenue accounted for 67.0 percent of total drugstore sales, and third-party prescription revenue was 96.3 percent of pharmacy sales.

Rite Aid is one of the nation's largest drugstore chains. On December 27, 2008, the company operated 4,915 stores compared to 5,088 stores in the like period a year ago. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at [ http://www.riteaid.com ].