(Corrects headline and first paragraph to say company now expects annual same-store sales at the top end of its forecast, not raises annual same-store sales forecast. Removes reference to fiscal 2022 same-store sales to grow at 6% to 7%.)
(Reuters) -Dollar General Corp said on Thursday it expects annual same-store sales at the higher end of its forecast, encouraged by strong demand for cheaper groceries and household essentials from budget-conscious shoppers amid stubbornly high inflation.
The company had forecast annual same-store sales growth of 4% to 4.5%. Analysts on average were expecting an increase of 4.13%, according to Refinitiv IBES.
(Reporting by Granth Vanaik and Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)