Rite Aid's same-store sales show improvement

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Same-store sales at Rite Aid increased by 1.3% in May, compared with the year-ago period, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

Reporting sales for the five-week period that ended May 28, Rite Aid said front-end same-store sales increased 1.8%, while same-store sales in the pharmacy increased by 1%, including a 129-basis-point offset due to introductions of new generic drugs. Prescription count increased 0.1%.

Total drug store sales during the period were nearly $2.5 billion, a 1% increase over $2.45 billion in May 2010.

Same-store sales for the 13-week quarter that ended May 28 increased by 0.8%, compared with the same period last year, including flat same-store sales at the front end and a 1.1% increase in pharmacy same-store sales.

Total drug store sales for the quarter were flat, with sales of $6.7 billion, compared with $6.4 billion last year. As of May 28, the company had 4,704 stores, compared with 4,767 stores at the same time a year ago.