Rite Aid Reports 2.7 Percent Same Store Sales Decrease For December

    Business Editors/Health Editors

    CAMP HILL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 4, 2005--Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE, PCX:RAD) today announced sales results for December.

    Monthly Sales

    For the four weeks ended December 25, 2004, same store sales decreased 2.7 percent over the prior-year period. Pharmacy same store sales were down 2.8 percent, while front-end same store sales were down 2.5 percent.
    Total drugstore sales for the four-week period decreased 3.0 percent to $1.429 billion as compared to $1.474 billion for the same period last year. Prescription revenue accounted for 57.3 percent of drugstore sales, and third party prescription revenue represented 93.7 percent of pharmacy sales.

    Year-to-Date Sales

    Same store sales for the 43-week period ended December 25, 2004 increased 1.9 percent as compared to the same period last year. This increase consisted of a 2.0 percent pharmacy same store sales increase and a 1.8 percent increase in front-end same store sales.
    Total drugstore sales for the 43 weeks ended December 25, 2004 gained 1.6 percent to $13.850 billion from $13.631 billion in last year's like period. Prescription revenue accounted for 63.5 percent of total drugstore sales, and third party prescription revenue was 93.5 percent of pharmacy sales.

    Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with annual revenues of more than $16.6 billion. On December 25, 2004, Rite Aid operated 3,363 stores compared to 3,386 stores operated at the end of the like period a year ago.

--30--JM/ny*

CONTACT: Rite Aid Corporation Investors: John Standley, 717-214-8857 Kevin Twomey, 717-731-6540 investor@riteaid.com or Media: Karen Rugen, 717-730-7766

KEYWORD: PENNSYLVANIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL RETAIL EARNINGS SOURCE: Rite Aid Corporation

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