CVS reports 14.5% increase in February same store sales

Business Wire, March 5, 1997

WOONSOCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 1997--CVS Corporation (NYSE-CVS) today reported a substantial increase in its same store sales for the four week period ended February 22, 1997.

Same store sales increased 14.5% over the prior year period, with pharmacy same store sales rising 23.0%. Pharmacy sales represented 46.2% of the total sales volume in February. CVS' total sales for the four week period increased 17.7% to $474.4 million from sales of $403.0 million for the comparable prior year period.

Year-to-date same store sales for the eight week period ended February 22, 1997 increased 15.7% over the prior year period. CVS' total sales for the eight week period were $919.4 million, an increase of 21.2% from sales of $758.4 million for the comparable period last year.

As of February 22, 1997, CVS operated 1,417 stores in 14 states and the District of Columbia, an increase of 3.5% from the total of 1,369 stores as of February 24, 1996.

CVS, with annual sales of $5.5 billion in 1996, is a leading drugstore chain in the Northeast and Middle Atlantic regions.

CONTACT: CVS Corporation

Investor Contact: Nancy Christal, 914/722-4704

or

Kekst and Company

Media Contact: Wendi Kopsick or Jim Fingeroth

(212) 593-2655