Retail pharmacies may escape economic downturn, report says

WASHINGTON While the tough economy is hurting most retailers, retail pharmacies might escape the worst of the downturn, according to a report released March 12 by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Though unadjusted sales at furniture and home furnishing stores were down in January and February by nearly 14%, compared to the same period last year, and sales at car and car part dealers dropped by 24.1%, sales at retail pharmacies increased by 1.5%.

The results were based on the Advanced Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services Survey, or MARTS, whereby the Census Bureau mails monthly questionnaires to a probability sample of about 5,000 employer firms selected from the larger Monthly Retail Trade Survey, or MRTS.  Firms responding to MARTS account for about 65% of the total national sales estimate.