Walgreens posts 7.9% April sales boost

DEERFIELD, Ill. Walgreens today announced April sales of $4.85 billion, an increase of 7.9% over last year's $4.49 billion. Comparable-store sales rose 1.6% while comparable-store front-end sales decreased 3.1%.

April sales were affected negatively this year due to an earlier Easter that helped boost sales in March. Sales for the two months, combined, increased 9.2% over 2007. Comparable-store sales for March/April rose 3% while comparable-store front-end sales rose 4%.

Front-end sales for the drugstore chain were aided by allergy medicine Zyrtec, which recently switched from prescription only to over-the-counter.

Aril pharmacy sales rose 10.8% and comparable-pharmacy sales rose 4.2%.

Walgreens opened 38 drugstores in April—including four relocations—acquired eight and closed 3. At April 30, the company operated 6,614 locations.