Right Aid July comps up 1.6%

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid Corp. today announced that same-store sales for the four weeks ended July 28, increased 1.6% over the prior-year period. Pharmacy same-store sales increased 2.1%. Front-end same-store sales increased 0.7%. According to Rite Aid, the acquired Brooks Eckerd stores are excluded from the same-store sales calculation but will be included in same-store sales twelve months after the close of the acquisition, which will be in June 2008.

Total drug store sales for the four-week period increased 54.9% to $2  billion compared to $1.3 billion for the same period last year. Prescription revenue accounted for 67.2% of drug store sales, and third party prescription revenue represented approximately 95.8% of pharmacy sales.

Same-store sales for the 21-week period ended July 28, increased 1.9%, consisting of a 2.2% pharmacy same-store sales increase and a 1.3% increase in front-end same-store sales.

Total drug store sales for the 21-weeks ended July 28, increased 22.5% to $8.5 billion from $6.9 billion in last year's like period. Prescription revenue accounted for 65.6% of total drug store sales, and third party prescription revenue was approximately 95.8% of pharmacy sales.