According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care commodities are 504.65% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $100.93 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2026:Medical care commodities experienced an average inflation rate of 3.90% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care commodities costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $120.93 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.24% during this same period, inflation for medical care commodities was higher.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 7.13%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for medical care commodities during the 1979-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.25%), 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 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20.00 | 7.13% |
| 1980 | $21.87 | 9.35% |
| 1981 | $24.26 | 10.91% |
| 1982 | $26.75 | 10.29% |
| 1983 | $29.04 | 8.55% |
| 1984 | $31.17 | 7.34% |
| 1985 | $33.39 | 7.11% |
| 1986 | $35.58 | 6.58% |
| 1987 | $37.96 | 6.69% |
| 1988 | $40.57 | 6.87% |
| 1989 | $43.72 | 7.76% |
| 1990 | $47.37 | 8.36% |
| 1991 | $51.24 | 8.18% |
| 1992 | $54.51 | 6.39% |
| 1993 | $56.52 | 3.68% |
| 1994 | $58.18 | 2.94% |
| 1995 | $59.27 | 1.88% |
| 1996 | $60.99 | 2.89% |
| 1997 | $62.40 | 2.33% |
| 1998 | $64.30 | 3.05% |
| 1999 | $66.88 | 4.00% |
| 2000 | $69.03 | 3.22% |
| 2001 | $71.77 | 3.97% |
| 2002 | $74.33 | 3.57% |
| 2003 | $76.19 | 2.50% |
| 2004 | $78.06 | 2.45% |
| 2005 | $80.01 | 2.50% |
| 2006 | $82.88 | 3.58% |
| 2007 | $84.07 | 1.44% |
| 2008 | $85.82 | 2.09% |
| 2009 | $88.45 | 3.06% |
| 2010 | $91.23 | 3.15% |
| 2011 | $93.95 | 2.98% |
| 2012 | $96.71 | 2.94% |
| 2013 | $97.14 | 0.45% |
| 2014 | $99.55 | 2.48% |
| 2015 | $102.80 | 3.26% |
| 2016 | $106.33 | 3.43% |
| 2017 | $109.30 | 2.80% |
| 2018 | $110.57 | 1.16% |
| 2019 | $110.53 | -0.04% |
| 2020 | $111.07 | 0.49% |
| 2021 | $109.31 | -1.59% |
| 2022 | $112.51 | 2.93% |
| 2023 | $117.21 | 4.17% |
| 2024 | $119.68 | 2.11% |
| 2025 | $120.75 | 0.90% |
| 2026 | $120.93 | 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 |