The average price of health care in the United States increased by 2.2% in the 12 months ended March 2024, following a previous increase of 1.4%, according to the most recent inflation data released Apr. 10, 2024 by the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The cost of health care is a major component — one of eight major groups — in the BLS’s Consumer Price Index (CPI). Described in their monthly reports as the "medical care index," it is split in two sub-categories titled "medical care commodities" and "medical care services." For example, in the 12 months ending March, the medical care commodities index increased 2.5% and the medical care services index increased by 2.1%. For more about the pair and some background, read about how the BLS measures pricing changes in medical care.
This chart displays annual U.S. health care inflation rates over the last decade:
*For unfinished years, the latest inflation data (12-month based) is always displayed in the chart’s final column.
Table: Heath Care Inflation by Month and Year (1948-2024)
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1948 | 6.1 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 6.7 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 7.4 | 6.6 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 6.5 | 5.8 |
| 1949 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| 1950 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| 1951 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 5.8 |
| 1952 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.4 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 6.3 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| 1953 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.5 |
| 1954 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| 1955 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| 1956 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| 1957 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| 1958 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| 1959 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| 1960 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| 1961 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| 1962 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.2 |
| 1963 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 1964 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| 1965 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| 1966 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.7 |
| 1967 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.7 | 6.3 |
| 1968 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 5.9 | 6.2 |
| 1969 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| 1970 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.4 |
| 1971 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 4.6 |
| 1972 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.3 |
| 1973 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| 1974 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 9.1 | 10.1 | 11.9 | 12.3 | 11.1 | 11.6 | 12.6 |
| 1975 | 13.3 | 13.6 | 13.5 | 13.9 | 13.5 | 12.4 | 12.2 | 11.1 | 11.0 | 10.9 | 10.2 | 9.8 |
| 1976 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 10.5 | 10.0 |
| 1977 | 9.9 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 8.7 | 8.9 |
| 1978 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| 1979 | 9.2 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 10.1 |
| 1980 | 10.0 | 10.8 | 11.2 | 11.5 | 11.6 | 11.4 | 11.3 | 11.0 | 11.1 | 11.0 | 10.7 | 9.9 |
| 1981 | 10.1 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 10.2 | 10.8 | 11.5 | 11.4 | 11.7 | 12.3 | 12.5 |
| 1982 | 12.1 | 11.8 | 12.0 | 12.1 | 12.0 | 11.9 | 11.7 | 11.3 | 11.4 | 11.2 | 10.9 | 11.0 |
| 1983 | 11.0 | 11.1 | 10.5 | 9.8 | 9.3 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 6.4 |
| 1984 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.1 |
| 1985 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| 1986 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 |
| 1987 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 5.8 |
| 1988 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.9 |
| 1989 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| 1990 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 9.5 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.6 |
| 1991 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 7.9 |
| 1992 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.6 |
| 1993 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.4 |
| 1994 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| 1995 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| 1996 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.0 |
| 1997 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.8 |
| 1998 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| 1999 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 |
| 2000 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| 2001 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| 2002 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 2003 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.7 |
| 2004 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| 2005 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| 2006 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| 2007 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| 2008 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| 2009 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| 2010 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.3 |
| 2011 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 |
| 2012 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.2 |
| 2013 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| 2014 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| 2015 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| 2016 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| 2017 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 |
| 2018 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| 2019 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| 2020 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 1.8 |
| 2021 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.2 |
| 2022 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| 2023 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | -0.5 | -1.0 | -1.4 | -0.8 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| 2024 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 2.2 | Avail. May 15 |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical care in U.S. city average, all urban consumers, not seasonally adjusted