Walgreens reports surge in monthly sales

DEERFIELD, Ill. Walgreens noted a 10.3% increase in sales for the month of September, compared with the year-ago period.

The drug store chain reported sales of approximately $5.35 billion for 2009. Sales in comparable stores (those open at least a year) increased 5.3%, while comparable store front-end sales increased 2%.

Walgreens also reported that September pharmacy sales increased 11.2%, while comparable-pharmacy sales increased 7%. Comparable pharmacy sales were positively impacted by 2.4 percentage points due to seasonal flu shots, and negatively impacted by 2.3 percentage points due to generic drug introductions in the last 12 months.

Calendar year-to-date sales were $47.6 billion, an increase of 7.4% from $44.3 billion in 2008.

Walgreens fiscal year began Sept. 1, so fiscal year-to-date sales are the same as the month’s sales.