According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care commodities are 798.09% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $159.62 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2026:Medical care commodities experienced an average inflation rate of 4% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care commodities costing $20 in the year 1970 would cost $179.62 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.86% during this same period, inflation for medical care commodities was higher.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 2.24%, which is below the average yearly change for medical care commodities during the 1970-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.84%), inflation for medical care commodities was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care commodities, over time, for $20 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $20.00 | 2.24% |
| 1971 | $20.36 | 1.78% |
| 1972 | $20.40 | 0.23% |
| 1973 | $20.46 | 0.28% |
| 1974 | $21.17 | 3.47% |
| 1975 | $22.95 | 8.41% |
| 1976 | $24.34 | 6.05% |
| 1977 | $25.91 | 6.44% |
| 1978 | $27.73 | 7.04% |
| 1979 | $29.71 | 7.13% |
| 1980 | $32.48 | 9.35% |
| 1981 | $36.03 | 10.91% |
| 1982 | $39.73 | 10.29% |
| 1983 | $43.13 | 8.55% |
| 1984 | $46.30 | 7.34% |
| 1985 | $49.59 | 7.11% |
| 1986 | $52.85 | 6.58% |
| 1987 | $56.38 | 6.69% |
| 1988 | $60.25 | 6.87% |
| 1989 | $64.93 | 7.76% |
| 1990 | $70.36 | 8.36% |
| 1991 | $76.11 | 8.18% |
| 1992 | $80.97 | 6.39% |
| 1993 | $83.95 | 3.68% |
| 1994 | $86.42 | 2.94% |
| 1995 | $88.04 | 1.88% |
| 1996 | $90.58 | 2.89% |
| 1997 | $92.69 | 2.33% |
| 1998 | $95.51 | 3.05% |
| 1999 | $99.33 | 4.00% |
| 2000 | $102.53 | 3.22% |
| 2001 | $106.60 | 3.97% |
| 2002 | $110.41 | 3.57% |
| 2003 | $113.16 | 2.50% |
| 2004 | $115.94 | 2.45% |
| 2005 | $118.84 | 2.50% |
| 2006 | $123.10 | 3.58% |
| 2007 | $124.86 | 1.44% |
| 2008 | $127.47 | 2.09% |
| 2009 | $131.37 | 3.06% |
| 2010 | $135.51 | 3.15% |
| 2011 | $139.54 | 2.98% |
| 2012 | $143.64 | 2.94% |
| 2013 | $144.29 | 0.45% |
| 2014 | $147.87 | 2.48% |
| 2015 | $152.69 | 3.26% |
| 2016 | $157.93 | 3.43% |
| 2017 | $162.34 | 2.80% |
| 2018 | $164.23 | 1.16% |
| 2019 | $164.17 | -0.04% |
| 2020 | $164.98 | 0.49% |
| 2021 | $162.35 | -1.59% |
| 2022 | $167.11 | 2.93% |
| 2023 | $174.08 | 4.17% |
| 2024 | $177.75 | 2.11% |
| 2025 | $179.35 | 0.90% |
| 2026 | $179.62 | 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 |