Rite Aid same-store sales up 3.5% in May

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid’s same-store sales rose 3.5% in May, boosted by a healthy increase in Rx sales.



The chain’s front-end same store sales increased 0.5%. Pharmacy same-store sales increased 5.0%. Total drugstore sales for the five-week period increased 2.5% to $2.48 billion, compared with $2.42 billion for the same period last year.



Prescription sales accounted for 68.0% of drug store sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.4% of pharmacy sales.



Same-store sales for the 13-week period ended May 31 increased 3.1% over the prior-year period. Front-end same-store sales were flat, compared with the prior-year period, while pharmacy same-store sales increased 4.6%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 2.3% over the prior-year period.



Total drugstore sales for the 13 weeks ended May 31 increased 2.6% with sales of $6.43 billion, compared with $6.26 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales represented 68.4% of total drugstore sales, and third-party prescription sales represented 97.4% of pharmacy sales.