Fewer flu shots at Rite Aid in December

Fewer sales of flu shots and prescription drugs at Rite Aid led to same-store script count decreases. However, the company reported increases in net and same-store sales for December.



The company reported a 2.9% increase in same-store sales for the month of December. For the four-week period that ended Saturday, front-end same-store sales increased by 1%, while pharmacy same-store sales increased by 4.1%, including a 1% negative effect from the introduction of new generic drugs. Meanwhile, a decrease in sales of flu shots and prescription flu drugs resulted in a 2% decrease in same-store script count.



Total sales were $2.109 billion, an increase of 2.7% over December 2012.



Meanwhile, for the 43-week period that ended Saturday, same-store sales increased by 0.5%, including a 0.1% increase in front-end same-store sales and a 0.7% increase in pharmacy same-store sales. Total sales during the same period were $20.953 billion, a 0.2% increase over the same period in 2012.