Medical Care Inflation

This database provides urban consumer prices for medical care goods and services, as measured by changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).  The heirarchy of categories is shown below with the category "Medical care" the broadest measure of medical care inflation.  Note that data are not reported for the aggregated category "Professional services." 

• Medical care
  • Medical care commodities
    • Medicinal drugs
      • Prescription drugs
      • Nonprescription drugs
    • Medical equipment and supplies
  • Medical care services
    • Professional services (not reported)
      • Physicians' services
      • Dental services
      • Eyeglasses and eye care
      • Services by other medical professionals
    • Hospital and related services
      • Hospital services
      • Nursing homes and adult day services
      • Care of invalids and elderly at home
  • Health insurance

Some data are adjusted for seasonal variations, although most are not.   A limited number of measures are available starting in 1935. Most are available for shorter periods. 

Data are not available for all combinations of items, areas, and time periods.  Data are presented as indexes or percentage changes for the preceding 12-month period.  For additional details on categories and methodology, see Consumer Price Index.  For background on calculating the percentage change bases on index values, see Calculating Consumer Price Changes.