CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. posted flat retail pharmacy sales results for December, despite an uptick in same-store sales at the front end.
The drug chain said Thursday that for the four weeks ended Dec. 26, same-store sales dipped 0.1% year over year. That compared with comparable-store sales growth of 0.9% in November.
In the front end, same-store sales edged up 0.8% for December. Pharmacy same store sales declined 0.6% and reflected a negative impact of 207 basis points from introductions of new generic drugs, Rite Aid said. Prescription count at comparable stores fell 0.4% over the prior-year period.
Overall drug store sales in December came in at $2.212 billion, the same as in the previous year. Prescription sales accounted for 64.6% of drug store sales for the month.
In the 43-week year-to-date period through Dec. 26, same-store sales rose 1.7%, including gains of 0.4% in the front end and 2.3% in the pharmacy. Prescriptions filled at comparable stores grew 0.5%.
Total drug store sales for the 43 weeks totaled $22.118 billion, up 1.6% from $21.765 billion a year earlier. Prescription sales represented 69% percent of overall drug store sales.
As of Dec. 26, Rite Aid operated 4,558 drug stores, compared with 4,570 stores a year ago.
