Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with more than 4,800 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia with fiscal 2009 annual sales of more than $26.3 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's Web site at http://www.riteaid.com.

SOURCE: Rite Aid Corporation

Rite Aid 
Investors: 
Chris Hall, 717-214-8834 
investor@riteaid.com 
or 
Media: 
Karen Rugen, 717-730-7766

Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:

Easy Comps Help Retail Sales

Among teen retailers, Ambercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) posted weaker-than-expected results, with same-store sales down 15%. Among discounters, Costco (Nasdaq: COST) had strong numbers, beating expectations; while Target's (NYSE: TGT) 0.1% decline was below the flat-results. Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) reported strong same-store sales numbers, maintaining its momentum from the previous month, while Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) continued to struggle.

While the economy has come out of the recession, the consumer is still hard pressed, given the dismal labor market and continued housing overhang. With another employment report due tomorrow -- and expectations of around 170,000 jobs lost in October -- any meaningful improvement in the retail scene will have to wait a turnaround in the labor market.

The saving grace for retailers in their fiscal third quarter results (typically ends October 30th) is the relatively easier comparison with the extremely bad 2008.

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Slides from the presentation will be available on Rite Aid's website at riteaid.com for all interested parties when the presentation begins.

Rite Aid Corp. is a drugstore chain with more than 4,800 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia with fiscal 2009 annual sales of more than $26.3 billion.

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