According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for hospital and related services are 1,407.68% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $281.54 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2026:Hospital and related services experienced an average inflation rate of 6.21% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, hospital and related services costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $301.54 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.90% during this same period, inflation for hospital and related services was significantly higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 14.29%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for hospital and related services during the 1981-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for hospital and related services was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Hospital and related services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 14.29% |
| 1982 | $22.75 | 13.77% |
| 1983 | $25.37 | 11.50% |
| 1984 | $27.55 | 8.58% |
| 1985 | $29.31 | 6.39% |
| 1986 | $31.06 | 6.00% |
| 1987 | $33.22 | 6.93% |
| 1988 | $36.34 | 9.41% |
| 1989 | $40.53 | 11.53% |
| 1990 | $44.88 | 10.74% |
| 1991 | $49.51 | 10.31% |
| 1992 | $54.00 | 9.07% |
| 1993 | $58.56 | 8.44% |
| 1994 | $61.99 | 5.85% |
| 1995 | $65.14 | 5.08% |
| 1996 | $68.06 | 4.48% |
| 1997 | $70.35 | 3.37% |
| 1998 | $72.62 | 3.22% |
| 1999 | $75.63 | 4.14% |
| 2000 | $80.09 | 5.91% |
| 2001 | $85.42 | 6.65% |
| 2002 | $92.85 | 8.70% |
| 2003 | $99.68 | 7.35% |
| 2004 | $105.51 | 5.85% |
| 2005 | $111.06 | 5.27% |
| 2006 | $118.19 | 6.42% |
| 2007 | $125.98 | 6.59% |
| 2008 | $134.82 | 7.02% |
| 2009 | $143.39 | 6.35% |
| 2010 | $153.44 | 7.01% |
| 2011 | $161.98 | 5.56% |
| 2012 | $169.70 | 4.77% |
| 2013 | $177.09 | 4.35% |
| 2014 | $185.30 | 4.63% |
| 2015 | $192.37 | 3.82% |
| 2016 | $200.77 | 4.37% |
| 2017 | $210.01 | 4.60% |
| 2018 | $218.90 | 4.24% |
| 2019 | $223.51 | 2.10% |
| 2020 | $232.57 | 4.06% |
| 2021 | $239.88 | 3.14% |
| 2022 | $248.85 | 3.74% |
| 2023 | $259.58 | 4.31% |
| 2024 | $275.09 | 5.98% |
| 2025 | $288.35 | 4.82% |
| 2026 | $301.54 | 4.57%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Hospital and related services:
| Year | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 4.700 | 5.000 | 5.533 | 6.300 | 7.200 | 8.192 | 9.133 | 9.917 | 10.550 | 11.183 | 11.958 | 13.083 | 14.592 | 16.158 | 17.825 | 19.442 | 21.083 | 22.317 | 23.450 | 24.500 | 25.325 | 26.142 | 27.225 | 28.833 | 30.750 | 33.425 | 35.883 | 37.983 | 39.983 | 42.550 | 45.352 | 48.537 | 51.620 | 55.239 | 58.312 | 61.093 | 63.753 | 66.707 | 69.253 | 72.278 | 75.602 | 78.806 | 80.462 | 83.727 | 86.356 | 89.586 | 93.448 | 99.032 | 103.806 | 108.553 |