Drugstore operator Walgreens has reported $463m (£307m) net earnings for the third quarter ended May 31, down from $522m (£346.5m) in the same period of last year.

Third-quarter sales increased 6.1% to a record $17.2bn (£11.41bn). Total sales in comparable stores increased 0.7%, while like-for-like store front-end sales increased 0.1%.

Front-end sales were affected by continued weak demand for discretionary goods and by lower demand for flu-related products compared with the same period last year. Prescription sales rose 5.7%, or by 1% on a like-for-like basis.