Despite increasing sales of conventional medicines, the sale of herbal preparations (phytomedicines) dropped almost two percent in Germany in 2002, according to recent data obtained from a leading organization that compiles sales statistics of conventional drugs, phytomedicines, and conventional nutritional supplements. All data in the table below are related to the “ambulatory” or retail sector (i.e., excluding sales in hospital pharmacies), and include wholesale sales by distributors and sales directly to pharmacies by the manufacturer at factory-direct prices. The sales data reflect net sales, with promotional and volume rebates and returns already deducted.