Rite Aid posts decline in monthly same-store sales

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid on Thursday morning posted a same-store sales decrease of 0.3% for the four weeks ended Sept. 26, representing a front-end same-store sales decrease of 2.3% while pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 186 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 0.7%.

Total drug store sales for the four-week period decreased 1.5% to $1.9 billion. Prescription revenue accounted for 68.5% of drug store sales, and third-party prescription revenue represented 96.1% of pharmacy sales.

This marks the first period for which Rite Aid did not break out its Brooks/Eckerd sales separately.

Year-to-date, same-store sales for the 30-week period ended Sept. 26 decreased 0.3%, consisting of a 3.1% front-end same store sales decrease and a 1.1% increase in pharmacy same-store sales.

Meanwhile, total drug store sales for the 30 weeks ended Sept. 26 decreased 1.9% to $14.7 billion. Prescription revenue accounted for 68.2% of total drugstore sales, and third-party prescription revenue was 96.3% of pharmacy sales.