Now with 79 million enrolled in its loyalty program, Walgreens posts 6.3% in comp sales for July

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday reported July sales of $6 billion, an increase of 8%. Sales in comparable stores increased by 6.3% in July. 

Calendar 2013 sales to date were $42 billion, an increase of 3.4%, while fiscal year-to-date sales totaled $66.1 billion, up 0.4%..

July pharmacy sales increased by 9.9%, while comparable-store pharmacy sales increased 8.8% and increased by a calendar day-shift adjusted 6.6%. This year's July had one additional Wednesday and one fewer Sunday compared with July 2012. Calendar day shifts positively impacted pharmacy sales in comparable stores by 220 basis points. Calendar day-shift adjusted comparable-store pharmacy sales were negatively impacted by 280 basis points due to generic drug introductions in the last 12 months. 

Pharmacy sales accounted for 64.6% of total sales for the month, Walgreens reported.

Prescriptions filled at comparable stores increased by 9.5% in July and increased 7.3% on a calendar day-shift adjusted basis.  

Total front-end sales increased 3.6% compared with the same month in fiscal 2012, while comparable store front-end sales increased 2.3%. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 1.2% and basket size increased 3.5%.

Registrations for Walgreens Balance Rewards loyalty program, which launched in September 2012, totaled 79 million through July.

Walgreens opened nine stores during July, including one relocation, and closed one.

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