The Woonsocket, RI drugstore chain took the unusual step ofannouncing its September results after rival Wal-Mart said it plansto begin offering some generic drugs at $4 per prescription. ThomasM. Ryan, chairman, president and chief executive officer of CVSCorp., said in a conference call that those 300 generic drugsrepresent less than 5% of the firm's total pharmacy sales and 24%of its prescriptions.

Helped by the June acquisition of 701 Sav-On and Oscodrugstores, CVS total sales soared 24.9% during the third quarter,rising to $11.2 billion from $9 billion during the same quarter ayear earlier.

Sales at stores open at least a year were also up, increasing by9.1% from the year ago period with same store sales growing 10.2%in the pharmacy and general merchandise sales rising 6.4%. Theacquired stores were not factored into the same-store salesresults, the company said.