Rite Aid's sales, comps increase in November

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales increased by 2.8% in November, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

The increase included a 0.4% increase in front-end same-store sales and a 3.9% increase in pharmacy same-store sales, offset by 0.81% due to new generic drugs, which can reduce sales because of their lower price, but are good for a pharmacy retailer's margins. Same-store scripts increased by 0.1%.

Total sales for November were $2.434 billion, a 1.6% increase compared with the same period last year.

During the previous 13 weeks, same-store sales increased by 2.3%, including a 0.2% decrease in front-end same-store sales and a 3.5% increase in pharmacy same-store sales. Total sales during the 13-week period were $6.33 billion, compared with $6.21 billion during the same period last year. From the beginning of the year up until Saturday, same-store sales increased by 0.3%, with flat front-end same-store sales and a 0.4% increase in pharmacy same-store sales, as well as a 0.2% increase in same-store scripts. Total sales were $18.84 billion, a 0.1% decrease compared with the same period last year.

The 4,595-store chain also said that last year's Hurricane Sandy boosted front-end same-store sales by 0.4% while increasing same-store prescription growth by 1.6%.