According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for physicians' services are 2,440.55% higher in 2026 versus 1952 (a $488.11 difference in value).
Between 1952 and 2026:Physicians' services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.47% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, physicians' services costing $20 in the year 1952 would cost $508.11 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.44% during this same period, inflation for physicians' services was higher.
In the year 1952: Pricing changed by 4.68%, which is above the average yearly change for physicians' services during the 1952-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1952 (2.28%), inflation for physicians' services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Physicians' services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1952. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | $20.00 | 4.68% |
| 1953 | $20.53 | 2.65% |
| 1954 | $21.17 | 3.11% |
| 1955 | $21.85 | 3.20% |
| 1956 | $22.53 | 3.11% |
| 1957 | $23.46 | 4.15% |
| 1958 | $24.28 | 3.48% |
| 1959 | $25.08 | 3.32% |
| 1960 | $25.75 | 2.67% |
| 1961 | $26.43 | 2.63% |
| 1962 | $27.19 | 2.86% |
| 1963 | $27.81 | 2.28% |
| 1964 | $28.33 | 1.87% |
| 1965 | $29.35 | 3.61% |
| 1966 | $31.08 | 5.90% |
| 1967 | $33.35 | 7.31% |
| 1968 | $35.21 | 5.57% |
| 1969 | $37.84 | 7.46% |
| 1970 | $40.66 | 7.46% |
| 1971 | $43.50 | 6.99% |
| 1972 | $44.85 | 3.10% |
| 1973 | $46.32 | 3.29% |
| 1974 | $50.56 | 9.15% |
| 1975 | $56.78 | 12.31% |
| 1976 | $63.19 | 11.27% |
| 1977 | $69.03 | 9.24% |
| 1978 | $74.77 | 8.32% |
| 1979 | $81.62 | 9.17% |
| 1980 | $90.26 | 10.58% |
| 1981 | $100.20 | 11.01% |
| 1982 | $109.60 | 9.38% |
| 1983 | $118.07 | 7.73% |
| 1984 | $126.30 | 6.97% |
| 1985 | $133.67 | 5.83% |
| 1986 | $143.32 | 7.22% |
| 1987 | $153.88 | 7.37% |
| 1988 | $164.94 | 7.18% |
| 1989 | $177.05 | 7.34% |
| 1990 | $189.78 | 7.19% |
| 1991 | $201.13 | 5.98% |
| 1992 | $213.76 | 6.28% |
| 1993 | $225.70 | 5.59% |
| 1994 | $235.70 | 4.43% |
| 1995 | $246.40 | 4.54% |
| 1996 | $255.31 | 3.62% |
| 1997 | $262.97 | 3.00% |
| 1998 | $270.77 | 2.97% |
| 1999 | $278.50 | 2.85% |
| 2000 | $288.67 | 3.65% |
| 2001 | $299.28 | 3.68% |
| 2002 | $307.52 | 2.75% |
| 2003 | $315.82 | 2.70% |
| 2004 | $328.34 | 3.96% |
| 2005 | $339.18 | 3.30% |
| 2006 | $344.42 | 1.55% |
| 2007 | $357.81 | 3.89% |
| 2008 | $367.36 | 2.67% |
| 2009 | $378.56 | 3.05% |
| 2010 | $390.95 | 3.27% |
| 2011 | $401.54 | 2.71% |
| 2012 | $409.80 | 2.06% |
| 2013 | $417.89 | 1.97% |
| 2014 | $423.71 | 1.39% |
| 2015 | $431.95 | 1.95% |
| 2016 | $446.11 | 3.28% |
| 2017 | $448.48 | 0.53% |
| 2018 | $448.91 | 0.10% |
| 2019 | $452.19 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $460.06 | 1.74% |
| 2021 | $479.68 | 4.26% |
| 2022 | $486.05 | 1.33% |
| 2023 | $486.82 | 0.16% |
| 2024 | $493.13 | 1.30% |
| 2025 | $505.50 | 2.51% |
| 2026 | $508.11 | 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 |