Walgreens August sales rise 6%

DEERFIELD, Ill. Walgreens reported August sales of $4.9 billion, an increase of 6% from $4.6 billion for the same month in 2007. Sales in comparable-stores rose 0.9%, while comparable store front-end sales increased 3.5%.

Promotional programs drove solid sales and customer traffic in August. But these aggressive promotions will negatively impact front-end margins in the quarter, the company reported

August front-end sales were helped in part by strong sales of consumables and key beauty items.

Pharmacy sales accounted for 65.3% of total sales for the month.