Walgreens April sales get boost from Easter

DEERFIELD, Ill. Walgreens reported April sales of $5.38 billion, an increase of 11.1% from $4.84 billion for the same month in 2008. Sales in comparable stores rose 5.7%, while comparable store front-end sales increased 8.9%.

According to the company, sales were helped by Easter falling in April this year compared with a March Easter last year. Sales for the combined months of March and April 2009 increased 9% from the same two months in 2008. Comparable store sales for the March/April period rose 3.7%, while comparable store front-end sales for the combined months increased 1.3%.