According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medicinal drugs were 25.55% higher in 2020 versus 2009 (a $5.11 difference in value).
Between 2009 and 2020: Medicinal drugs experienced an average inflation rate of 2.09% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medicinal drugs costing $20 in the year 2009 would cost $25.11 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 1.72% during this same period, inflation for medicinal drugs was higher.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Medicinal drugs:
| Year | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 102.268 | 105.455 | 108.640 | 109.130 | 111.993 | 115.850 | 119.989 | 123.444 | 124.905 | 124.772 | 125.555 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medicinal drugs, over time, for $20 beginning in 2009. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | $20.00 | - |
| 2010 | $20.45 | 2.27% |
| 2011 | $21.09 | 3.12% |
| 2012 | $21.73 | 3.02% |
| 2013 | $21.83 | 0.45% |
| 2014 | $22.40 | 2.62% |
| 2015 | $23.17 | 3.44% |
| 2016 | $24.00 | 3.57% |
| 2017 | $24.69 | 2.88% |
| 2018 | $24.98 | 1.18% |
| 2019 | $24.95 | -0.11% |
| 2020 | $25.11 | 0.63%* |