Longs says March drug store sales up 4.7%

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. Longs Drug Stores reported that preliminary total retail drug store sales for the five-week period ended April 3 increased 4.7% to $474 million.

The company reported that total same-store sales increased 2.8%. Pharmacy sam-store sales grew 0.1%, while front-end same-store sales grew 5.7%. Longs estimated that preliminary March front-end same-store sales were favorably impacted by approximately 350 to 400 basis points as a result of the three-week shift in Easter holiday sales.