We're gonna be fine

[Triangulation]

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From Wall Street Journal Marketplace Section regarding sale of Eckerd to CVS, Coutu

....But even drug chain underperformers can be hot properties these days: the drugstore business has been outpacing the rest of retailing due to a surge in drug sales and fast expanding inventory of non-rx products. over the past five years, drugstore revenue grew 35.5%, twice the rate of the overrall retail sector.

A wide offering of pricey new meds, from cholesterol busters to viagra, have contributed to the rist in rx-drug sales nationally to $216.4 billion last year from $60.1 billion in 1994 The graying of america is another reason for the boom. And the expanded rx-drug benefit for medicare is expected to boost sales. "There is long term visible growth" in the pharmacy business, says meredith adler, a retail analyst with lehman bros. 'it's all tied to the aging poplulation.

The number of Americans over 65 is expected to rise to 55 mllion in 2020, up 56% from 2000.....

 

[jj99]

I think your right, but we may have to get used to working harder.

 

[goheel]

The pharmacist, where I volunteer at, told me that retail chains don't make alot of money off prescription drugs, but mostly in OTC stuff. Is that true?

 

[kren]

I'm subscribed to the NACDS SmartBrief (btw, a GREAT resource for up-to-date news in the industry!), and there was a recent article that stated that independent drugstores make about a 2% profit on rxs. I believe it's higher for chains since they are able to purchase in greater volumes. Recent trend is shrinking profit margins on rxs as a result of mco/pbm's more aggressive attempts at managing drug costs.