According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for nonprescription drugs are 15.95% higher in 2024 versus 2021 (a $1.60 difference in value).
Between 2021 and 2024: Nonprescription drugs experienced an average inflation rate of 5.06% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, nonprescription drugs costing $10 in the year 2021 would cost $11.60 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 4.96% during this same period, inflation for nonprescription drugs was higher.
In the year 2021: Pricing changed by -0.60%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for nonprescription drugs during the 2021-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2021 (4.70%), inflation for nonprescription drugs was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Nonprescription drugs, over time, for $10 beginning in 2021. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $10.00 | -0.60% |
| 2022 | $10.44 | 4.38% |
| 2023 | $11.12 | 6.50% |
| 2024 | $11.60 | 4.30%* |
* 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 Nonprescription drugs:
| Year | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 99.958 | 98.622 | 99.338 | 99.356 | 98.537 | 97.772 | 96.630 | 97.424 | 96.923 | 97.287 | 96.447 | 95.872 | 100.075 | 106.578 | 111.166 |