Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator Instructions) Your first question comes from the line of Jonathan Lichter - Sidoti & Company
Jonathan Lichter - Sidoti & Company
What are you seeing in terms of same store sales weakness or strength, by geographic region?
Michael Walsh
It varies, for example Las Vegas where we have a presence the economy of Vegas probably has taken a bigger hit then other markets that we serve so that is, we’re certainly seeing an effect there. Canada, we’re struggling with Alberta but the sales there are very robust. It’s a matter of keeping up with them. But generally overall I’d say on the average, and I reported our same store non-cigarette sales were up about 4.1% which is pretty consistent with historical numbers over the years.
So I don’t think you could say that we have seen the effect of the recession. Its been kind of lumpy due to local market factors, some ups, some down but on the average its about normal. And as I said the same store sales in the, if you look year-over-year was up in the third quarter relative to the second quarter which indicates some strengthening. I do think this lower gasoline price, going from less then $60 down from $147 in early July, I think that has as much to do with our consumers as anything else.
Jonathan Lichter - Sidoti & Company
How much availability do you have for acquisitions and are you seeing more companies approaching you that are interested in selling?
Michael Walsh
I wouldn’t say there’s been a rash of companies calling us to sell, but there are a couple that maintain some interest and we’re looking at them.
Operator
Your next question comes from the line of James Lee – Unidentified Company
James Lee – Unidentified Company
Given the performance this quarter over 6% organic growth and your guidance was $6 billion, it seems like you’re implying a 5.4% growth for Q4, are you being overly conservative, or are you seeing anything unusual in Q4.
Michael Walsh
We’re not seeing anything unusual and maybe we’re being a tad conservative. It wasn’t enough to change the guidance but we feel very good about the fourth quarter. We don’t see any signs through October that there’s been any change in our glide path.
James Lee – Unidentified Company
Is next year, if the economy is in a worst case, how likely is that you can still say profitable, or cash flow positive?
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