RAD comps increase 3.6% in December

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales increased 3.6% in December 2011, compared with December 2010, the company said Thursday.



Front-end same-store sales increased by 0.7%, while pharmacy same-store sales increased by 5.2% and prescription count at comparable stores increased 3.2%. Total store sales increased by 3.3% to $2.6 billion, compared with December 2010's nearly $2.6 billion.



One factor that helped raise the numbers was a New Year's holiday calendar shift, resulting in a 2.1% increase in same-store sales when the holiday period through Jan. 2 is included.



For the 44-week period ending Dec. 31, same-store sales increased by 1.8%, including a 0.8% increase in front-end same-store sales and a 2.3% increase in pharmacy same-store sales. Total store sales increased 1.4% to $21.5 billion, compared with $21.2 billion in 2010. Prescription sales accounted for 67.9% of total store sales.