Rite Aid posts 4.3% boost in same store sales

Rite Aid's pharmacy and front-end divisions helped the retailer post a 4.3% gain in same store sales for March.



For the four weeks ended March 28, overall same-store sales increased 4.3%, with a front-end same-store sales increase of 2.5% and pharmacy same-store sales increase of 5.1%. Pharmacy same-store sales results included an approximate 167 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions.



Prescription count at comparable stores increased 2.5% over the prior-year period.



Total drug store sales for the four-week period increased 4.1% to $2 billion. Prescription sales accounted for 69.9% of drug store sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.7% of pharmacy sales.