According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care commodities are 792.64% higher in 2026 versus 1959 (a $158.53 difference in value).
Between 1959 and 2026:Medical care commodities experienced an average inflation rate of 3.32% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care commodities costing $20 in the year 1959 would cost $178.53 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.66% during this same period, inflation for medical care commodities was lower.
In the year 1959: Pricing changed by 1.52%, which is below the average yearly change for medical care commodities during the 1959-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1959 (1.01%), inflation for medical care commodities was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care commodities, over time, for $20 beginning in 1959. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | $20.00 | 1.52% |
| 1960 | $20.09 | 0.46% |
| 1961 | $19.85 | -1.19% |
| 1962 | $19.55 | -1.51% |
| 1963 | $19.33 | -1.13% |
| 1964 | $19.32 | -0.07% |
| 1965 | $19.25 | -0.37% |
| 1966 | $19.30 | 0.28% |
| 1967 | $19.22 | -0.41% |
| 1968 | $19.25 | 0.13% |
| 1969 | $19.44 | 1.02% |
| 1970 | $19.88 | 2.24% |
| 1971 | $20.23 | 1.78% |
| 1972 | $20.28 | 0.23% |
| 1973 | $20.34 | 0.28% |
| 1974 | $21.04 | 3.47% |
| 1975 | $22.81 | 8.41% |
| 1976 | $24.19 | 6.05% |
| 1977 | $25.75 | 6.44% |
| 1978 | $27.56 | 7.04% |
| 1979 | $29.53 | 7.13% |
| 1980 | $32.29 | 9.35% |
| 1981 | $35.81 | 10.91% |
| 1982 | $39.49 | 10.29% |
| 1983 | $42.87 | 8.55% |
| 1984 | $46.02 | 7.34% |
| 1985 | $49.29 | 7.11% |
| 1986 | $52.53 | 6.58% |
| 1987 | $56.04 | 6.69% |
| 1988 | $59.89 | 6.87% |
| 1989 | $64.54 | 7.76% |
| 1990 | $69.93 | 8.36% |
| 1991 | $75.65 | 8.18% |
| 1992 | $80.48 | 6.39% |
| 1993 | $83.44 | 3.68% |
| 1994 | $85.89 | 2.94% |
| 1995 | $87.50 | 1.88% |
| 1996 | $90.03 | 2.89% |
| 1997 | $92.13 | 2.33% |
| 1998 | $94.93 | 3.05% |
| 1999 | $98.73 | 4.00% |
| 2000 | $101.91 | 3.22% |
| 2001 | $105.96 | 3.97% |
| 2002 | $109.74 | 3.57% |
| 2003 | $112.48 | 2.50% |
| 2004 | $115.24 | 2.45% |
| 2005 | $118.12 | 2.50% |
| 2006 | $122.35 | 3.58% |
| 2007 | $124.11 | 1.44% |
| 2008 | $126.70 | 2.09% |
| 2009 | $130.57 | 3.06% |
| 2010 | $134.69 | 3.15% |
| 2011 | $138.70 | 2.98% |
| 2012 | $142.77 | 2.94% |
| 2013 | $143.41 | 0.45% |
| 2014 | $146.97 | 2.48% |
| 2015 | $151.77 | 3.26% |
| 2016 | $156.97 | 3.43% |
| 2017 | $161.36 | 2.80% |
| 2018 | $163.24 | 1.16% |
| 2019 | $163.18 | -0.04% |
| 2020 | $163.98 | 0.49% |
| 2021 | $161.37 | -1.59% |
| 2022 | $166.10 | 2.93% |
| 2023 | $173.03 | 4.17% |
| 2024 | $176.68 | 2.11% |
| 2025 | $178.26 | 0.90% |
| 2026 | $178.53 | 0.15%* |
* 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 Medical care commodities:
| Year | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 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 | 36.790 | 38.500 | 39.150 | 39.592 | 40.800 | 41.133 | 41.542 | 41.983 | 42.383 | 43.408 | 44.442 | 46.033 | 46.733 | 46.950 | 46.392 | 45.692 | 45.175 | 45.142 | 44.975 | 45.100 | 44.917 | 44.975 | 45.433 | 46.450 | 47.275 | 47.383 | 47.517 | 49.167 | 53.300 | 56.525 | 60.167 | 64.400 | 68.992 | 75.442 | 83.675 | 92.283 | 100.175 | 107.525 | 115.167 | 122.742 | 130.950 | 139.942 | 150.800 | 163.400 | 176.758 | 188.050 | 194.975 | 200.700 | 204.467 | 210.375 | 215.267 | 221.825 | 230.700 | 238.133 | 247.583 | 256.417 | 262.825 | 269.267 | 276.008 | 285.892 | 289.998 | 296.045 | 305.108 | 314.717 | 324.089 | 333.609 | 335.109 | 343.422 | 354.624 | 366.781 | 377.037 | 381.427 | 381.288 | 383.160 | 377.057 | 388.109 | 404.309 | 412.836 | 416.543 | 417.161 |