Walgreens reports 5.7 percent increase in sales

The later Easter holiday was part of the reason Walgreens sales in April increased 5.7 percent over last year, according to figures released today.

The Deerfield-based drugstore company said sales rose 11.1 percent to nearly $5.4 billion compared to $4.8 billion last year.

The company said sales in comparable stores, those opened at least a year, rose 5.7 percent. Sales were helped by Easter falling in April this year compared with a March Easter last year, the company said.

As of April 30, Walgreens operated 7,282 locations in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. That includes 6,783 drugstores, 579 more than a year ago.