Rite Aid Dec. Same-Store Sales Rise 5.3% - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Retail drugstore chain operator Rite Aid Corp. (RAD) said its December same-store sales increased by 5.3 percent year-over-year. Front-end same-store sales in December grew by 1.7 percent. Pharmacy same-store sales, including an approximate 123 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, rose 7.3 percent, and prescription count at comparable stores was up 5.1 percent from last year.

For the four-week period, total drugstore sales were up 4.9 percent to $2.21 billion from $2.109 billion a year ago. Prescription sales accounted for 64.8 percent of drugstore sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.6 percent of pharmacy sales.

During the 43-week period ended December 27, 2014, same-store sales climbed by 4.3 percent over the prior-year period. Front-end same store sales grew 1.0 percent with pharmacy same store sales rising 5.9 percent.