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Rite Aid Reports 1.8 Percent Same Store Sales Decrease for December

^{Published on 2010-01-04 10:30:13 - 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 26, 2009, same store sales decreased 1.8 percent over the prior-year period. Front-end same store sales decreased 2.3 percent while pharmacy same store sales, which included an approximate 188 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, were down 1.5 percent. Prescriptions filled at comparable stores decreased 0.2 percent over the prior-year period.

Total drugstore sales for the four-week period decreased 3.0 percent to $2.091 billion compared to $2.155 billion for the same period last year. Prescription revenue accounted for 62.7 percent of drugstore sales, and third party prescription revenue represented 96.2 percent of pharmacy sales.

Year-to-Date Sales

Same store sales for the 43-week period ended December 26, 2009 decreased 0.5 percent, consisting of a 2.9 percent front-end same store sales decrease and a 0.7 percent increase in pharmacy same store sales.

Total drugstore sales for the 43 weeks ended December 26, 2009 decreased 2.0 percent to $21.222 billion from $21.658 billion in last year's like period. Prescription revenue accounted for 67.7 percent of total drugstore sales, and third-party prescription revenue was 96.2 percent of pharmacy sales.

Rite Aid is one of the nation's largest drugstore chains. On December 26, 2009, the company operated 4,801 stores compared to 4,915 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 ].