After Hours and Pre-Market Movers

[JoeHall]

Rite Aid Reports 0.1 Percent Same Store Sales Decrease for March

CAMP HILL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) today announced sales results for March.

Monthly Sales

For the four weeks ended March 27, 2010, same store sales decreased 0.1 percent over the prior-year period. Front end same store sales increased 1.8 percent, positively impacted by an earlier Easter (April 4, 2010 versus April 12, 2009). Pharmacy same store sales, which included an approximate 189 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, declined 1.0 percent. Prescriptions filled at comparable stores decreased 1.3 percent over the prior-year period.

Total drugstore sales for the four-week period decreased 1.4 percent to $1.968 billion compared to $1.996 billion for the same period last year. Prescription revenue accounted for 68.7 percent of drugstore sales, and third party prescription revenue represented 96.3 percent of pharmacy sales.

Rite Aid is one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains. On March 27, 2010, the company operated 4,777 stores compared to 4,882 stores in the like period a year ago. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at http://www.riteaid.com.

Contacts

Rite Aid Corporation
INVESTORS:
Matt Schroeder
[phone]
or [e-mail]
or
MEDIA:
Karen Rugen
[phone]