Retail pharmacy sales in 2008 are estimated at more than $265 billion, compared with $260 billion in 2007. Traditional drug stores account for about 40% of sales, followed by mail order with about 20%, independents with about 17%, supermarkets with about 12% and mass merchandisers with about 11%. Although total retail sales plunged by 5.1% in the fourth quarter of 2008, pharmacy sales rose by 4.1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2007. About 3.4 billion prescriptions were dispensed in 2008, but prescription volume is dropping.