Longs Reports Preliminary April Retail Drug Store Sales

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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 in Walnut Creek, California, Longs Drug Stores
Corporation (NYSE: LDG) is one of the most recognized retail drug store
chains on the West Coast and in Hawaii. 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
http://www.longs.com
CONTACT:
Longs Drug Stores Corporation,
+1-925-979-3979