According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for physicians' services are 2,747.09% higher in 2026 versus 1948 (a $549.42 difference in value).
Between 1948 and 2026:Physicians' services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.39% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, physicians' services costing $20 in the year 1948 would cost $569.42 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.39% during this same period, inflation for physicians' services was higher.
In the year 1948: Pricing changed by 3.60%, which is below the average yearly change for physicians' services during the 1948-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1948 (7.69%), inflation for physicians' services was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Physicians' services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1948. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | $20.00 | 3.60% |
| 1949 | $20.44 | 2.20% |
| 1950 | $20.73 | 1.40% |
| 1951 | $21.41 | 3.30% |
| 1952 | $22.41 | 4.68% |
| 1953 | $23.01 | 2.65% |
| 1954 | $23.72 | 3.11% |
| 1955 | $24.48 | 3.20% |
| 1956 | $25.25 | 3.11% |
| 1957 | $26.29 | 4.15% |
| 1958 | $27.21 | 3.48% |
| 1959 | $28.11 | 3.32% |
| 1960 | $28.86 | 2.67% |
| 1961 | $29.62 | 2.63% |
| 1962 | $30.47 | 2.86% |
| 1963 | $31.16 | 2.28% |
| 1964 | $31.75 | 1.87% |
| 1965 | $32.89 | 3.61% |
| 1966 | $34.83 | 5.90% |
| 1967 | $37.38 | 7.31% |
| 1968 | $39.46 | 5.57% |
| 1969 | $42.40 | 7.46% |
| 1970 | $45.56 | 7.46% |
| 1971 | $48.75 | 6.99% |
| 1972 | $50.26 | 3.10% |
| 1973 | $51.91 | 3.29% |
| 1974 | $56.66 | 9.15% |
| 1975 | $63.64 | 12.31% |
| 1976 | $70.81 | 11.27% |
| 1977 | $77.36 | 9.24% |
| 1978 | $83.79 | 8.32% |
| 1979 | $91.47 | 9.17% |
| 1980 | $101.15 | 10.58% |
| 1981 | $112.29 | 11.01% |
| 1982 | $122.82 | 9.38% |
| 1983 | $132.32 | 7.73% |
| 1984 | $141.54 | 6.97% |
| 1985 | $149.80 | 5.83% |
| 1986 | $160.62 | 7.22% |
| 1987 | $172.45 | 7.37% |
| 1988 | $184.84 | 7.18% |
| 1989 | $198.41 | 7.34% |
| 1990 | $212.68 | 7.19% |
| 1991 | $225.40 | 5.98% |
| 1992 | $239.55 | 6.28% |
| 1993 | $252.94 | 5.59% |
| 1994 | $264.14 | 4.43% |
| 1995 | $276.13 | 4.54% |
| 1996 | $286.12 | 3.62% |
| 1997 | $294.70 | 3.00% |
| 1998 | $303.44 | 2.97% |
| 1999 | $312.10 | 2.85% |
| 2000 | $323.50 | 3.65% |
| 2001 | $335.39 | 3.68% |
| 2002 | $344.63 | 2.75% |
| 2003 | $353.93 | 2.70% |
| 2004 | $367.96 | 3.96% |
| 2005 | $380.11 | 3.30% |
| 2006 | $385.98 | 1.55% |
| 2007 | $400.98 | 3.89% |
| 2008 | $411.69 | 2.67% |
| 2009 | $424.24 | 3.05% |
| 2010 | $438.12 | 3.27% |
| 2011 | $449.99 | 2.71% |
| 2012 | $459.25 | 2.06% |
| 2013 | $468.31 | 1.97% |
| 2014 | $474.84 | 1.39% |
| 2015 | $484.07 | 1.95% |
| 2016 | $499.94 | 3.28% |
| 2017 | $502.59 | 0.53% |
| 2018 | $503.08 | 0.10% |
| 2019 | $506.75 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $515.57 | 1.74% |
| 2021 | $537.56 | 4.26% |
| 2022 | $544.70 | 1.33% |
| 2023 | $545.56 | 0.16% |
| 2024 | $552.64 | 1.30% |
| 2025 | $566.49 | 2.51% |
| 2026 | $569.42 | 0.52%* |
* 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 Physicians' services:
| 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 | 14.600 | 15.125 | 15.458 | 15.675 | 16.192 | 16.950 | 17.400 | 17.942 | 18.517 | 19.092 | 19.883 | 20.575 | 21.258 | 21.825 | 22.400 | 23.042 | 23.567 | 24.008 | 24.875 | 26.342 | 28.267 | 29.842 | 32.067 | 34.458 | 36.867 | 38.008 | 39.258 | 42.850 | 48.125 | 53.550 | 58.500 | 63.367 | 69.175 | 76.492 | 84.917 | 92.883 | 100.067 | 107.042 | 113.283 | 121.467 | 130.417 | 139.783 | 150.050 | 160.842 | 170.458 | 181.158 | 191.283 | 199.758 | 208.825 | 216.375 | 222.867 | 229.475 | 236.025 | 244.650 | 253.642 | 260.625 | 267.658 | 278.267 | 287.458 | 291.900 | 303.242 | 311.341 | 320.831 | 331.330 | 340.301 | 347.306 | 354.161 | 359.097 | 366.082 | 378.082 | 380.086 | 380.451 | 383.228 | 389.900 | 406.528 | 411.927 | 412.581 | 417.930 | 428.411 | 430.623 |