According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care commodities are 172.36% higher in 2026 versus 1989 (a $34.47 difference in value).
Between 1989 and 2026, Medical care commodities experienced an average inflation rate of 2.74% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care commodities costing $20 in the year 1989 would cost $54.47 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.70% during this same period, inflation for medical care commodities was higher.
In the year 1989: Pricing changed by 7.76%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for medical care commodities during the 1989-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1989 (4.83%), inflation for medical care commodities was higher.
Medical care commodities prices are down 3.3% over the past year, but your own inflation rate depends on everything you buy. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care commodities, over time, for $20 beginning in 1989. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | $20.00 | 7.76% |
| 1990 | $21.67 | 8.36% |
| 1991 | $23.44 | 8.18% |
| 1992 | $24.94 | 6.39% |
| 1993 | $25.86 | 3.68% |
| 1994 | $26.62 | 2.94% |
| 1995 | $27.12 | 1.88% |
| 1996 | $27.90 | 2.89% |
| 1997 | $28.55 | 2.33% |
| 1998 | $29.42 | 3.05% |
| 1999 | $30.60 | 4.00% |
| 2000 | $31.58 | 3.22% |
| 2001 | $32.84 | 3.97% |
| 2002 | $34.01 | 3.57% |
| 2003 | $34.86 | 2.50% |
| 2004 | $35.71 | 2.45% |
| 2005 | $36.61 | 2.50% |
| 2006 | $37.92 | 3.58% |
| 2007 | $38.46 | 1.44% |
| 2008 | $39.26 | 2.09% |
| 2009 | $40.47 | 3.06% |
| 2010 | $41.74 | 3.15% |
| 2011 | $42.98 | 2.98% |
| 2012 | $44.25 | 2.94% |
| 2013 | $44.44 | 0.45% |
| 2014 | $45.55 | 2.48% |
| 2015 | $47.03 | 3.26% |
| 2016 | $48.64 | 3.43% |
| 2017 | $50.00 | 2.80% |
| 2018 | $50.59 | 1.16% |
| 2019 | $50.57 | -0.04% |
| 2020 | $50.82 | 0.49% |
| 2021 | $50.01 | -1.59% |
| 2022 | $51.47 | 2.93% |
| 2023 | $53.62 | 4.17% |
| 2024 | $54.75 | 2.11% |
| 2025 | $55.27 | 0.94% |
| 2026 | $54.47 | -1.44%* |
* 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 | 416.708 | 410.711 |