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Longs Reports Preliminary April Retail Drug Store Sales

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Longs Drug Stores Corporation (NYSE: LDG) today reported preliminary total retail drug store sales for the four-week and thirteen-week periods ended May 1, 2008.



                                                     Periods ended May 1, 2008

                                                       Month          Quarter
    (Dollars in millions)                            (4 weeks)      (13 weeks)

    Total retail drug store sales                       $366         $1,220
    Increase from comparable prior year period           0.4%           2.9%

    Same-store sales increase (decrease):
      Pharmacy                                          (0.5)%          0.5%
      Front-end                                         (2.4)%          1.5%
      Total                                             (1.5)%          1.0%

Longs estimated that preliminary April front-end same-store sales were unfavorably impacted by approximately 450 to 475 basis points as a result of the three-week shift in Easter holiday sales. Easter occurred on March 23 this year versus April 8 last year.

Longs estimated that preliminary April pharmacy same-store sales were unfavorably impacted by approximately 450 to 500 basis points as a result of recent generic introductions being substituted for higher-priced brand name drugs. In addition, the switch of the prescription allergy medicine Zyrtec to over-the-counter status and a mild conclusion to the cold and flu season versus last year had an unfavorable impact of approximately 125 to 150 basis points on pharmacy same-store sales.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Headquartered inWalnut Creek, California, Longs Drug Stores Corporation (NYSE: LDG) is one of the most recognized retail drug store chains on the West Coast and inHawaii. The Company operates 516 retail pharmacies and offers a wide assortment of merchandise focusing on health, wellness, beauty and convenience. Longs also provides pharmacy benefit management services and Medicare beneficiary prescription drug plans through its wholly-owned subsidiary, RxAmerica, LLC. Additional information about Longs and its services is available at http://www.longs.com and more information about RxAmerica is available at http://www.rxamerica.com.

Contact: 925-979-3979

SOURCE Longs Drug Stores Corporation

Tags: ,HEA,MTC,REA,HOU,SLS,CA-Longs-Drug-Stores

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Longs Reports Preliminary April Retail Drug Store Sales