NACDS data finds retail stores with pharmacies have annual impact of 17 percent of GDP

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Though their sales alone total $827 billion, retail stores that operate pharmacies have a total economic effect of $2.42 trillion every year, according to economic analysis that the National Association of Chain Drug Stores released Thursday.

The analysis, part of NACDS’ 2008 Chain Pharmacy Industry Profile, shows that every $1 spent in these stores creates a ripple effect of $2.93 throughout other segments of the economy, including manufacturing, information technology, construction, real estate, transportation and others.

Stores that operate pharmacies—including chain and independent drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchandisers—have annual sales of $827 billion.

The 39,000 chain pharmacies across the country dispensed more than 2.5 billion prescriptions last year, or about 72 percent of the total filled, NACDS said.