Walgreens sees sales increase of nearly 5 percent

Walgreens reported October sales increased nearly 5 percent at stores open at least a year.

Looking at all its stores, the Deerfield company reported overall sales of $5,650,600,000, an increase of 9.4 percent from $5,164,613,000 for the same month in 2008.

October pharmacy sales increased 9.3 percent, while comparable pharmacy sales increased 5 percent. Comparable pharmacy sales were positively impacted by 1 percentage point due to seasonal flu shots, and negatively impacted by 2.2 percentage points due to generic drug introductions in the last 12 months.

Prescriptions filled at comparable stores increased 8.6 percent in October, including 2.4 percentage points due to seasonal flu shots and 1.3 percentage points due to more patients filling 90-day prescriptions. Pharmacy sales accounted for 66.3 percent of total sales for the month.

Walgreens opened 69 stores during October, including eight relocations.

Daily Herald business writer Kim Mikus contributed to this report.