Rite Aid March comps up 2.6%

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid reported that total drug store sales for the four weeks ended March 29 increased 50.7% to $2.04 billion as compared to $1.3 billion for the same period last year. Prescription revenue accounted for 67.6% of drug store sales, and third party prescription revenue represented 96.2% of pharmacy sales.

Same-store sales for the month of March increased 2.6 % over the prior-year period. Pharmacy same-store sales increased 1%, which included an approximate 493 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions. Front-end same-store sales were up 5.7%. March same-store sales were positively affected by a shift to a March Easter this year from an April Easter last year, the company reported.