According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for physicians' services are 2,374.84% higher in 2026 versus 1953 (a $474.97 difference in value).
Between 1953 and 2026:Physicians' services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.49% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, physicians' services costing $20 in the year 1953 would cost $494.97 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.48% during this same period, inflation for physicians' services was higher.
In the year 1953: Pricing changed by 2.65%, which is below the average yearly change for physicians' services during the 1953-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1953 (0.82%), inflation for physicians' services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Physicians' services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1953. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | $20.00 | 2.65% |
| 1954 | $20.62 | 3.11% |
| 1955 | $21.28 | 3.20% |
| 1956 | $21.94 | 3.11% |
| 1957 | $22.85 | 4.15% |
| 1958 | $23.65 | 3.48% |
| 1959 | $24.43 | 3.32% |
| 1960 | $25.09 | 2.67% |
| 1961 | $25.75 | 2.63% |
| 1962 | $26.48 | 2.86% |
| 1963 | $27.09 | 2.28% |
| 1964 | $27.60 | 1.87% |
| 1965 | $28.59 | 3.61% |
| 1966 | $30.28 | 5.90% |
| 1967 | $32.49 | 7.31% |
| 1968 | $34.30 | 5.57% |
| 1969 | $36.86 | 7.46% |
| 1970 | $39.61 | 7.46% |
| 1971 | $42.38 | 6.99% |
| 1972 | $43.69 | 3.10% |
| 1973 | $45.12 | 3.29% |
| 1974 | $49.25 | 9.15% |
| 1975 | $55.32 | 12.31% |
| 1976 | $61.55 | 11.27% |
| 1977 | $67.24 | 9.24% |
| 1978 | $72.84 | 8.32% |
| 1979 | $79.51 | 9.17% |
| 1980 | $87.92 | 10.58% |
| 1981 | $97.61 | 11.01% |
| 1982 | $106.76 | 9.38% |
| 1983 | $115.02 | 7.73% |
| 1984 | $123.04 | 6.97% |
| 1985 | $130.21 | 5.83% |
| 1986 | $139.62 | 7.22% |
| 1987 | $149.90 | 7.37% |
| 1988 | $160.67 | 7.18% |
| 1989 | $172.47 | 7.34% |
| 1990 | $184.88 | 7.19% |
| 1991 | $195.93 | 5.98% |
| 1992 | $208.23 | 6.28% |
| 1993 | $219.87 | 5.59% |
| 1994 | $229.61 | 4.43% |
| 1995 | $240.03 | 4.54% |
| 1996 | $248.71 | 3.62% |
| 1997 | $256.17 | 3.00% |
| 1998 | $263.76 | 2.97% |
| 1999 | $271.29 | 2.85% |
| 2000 | $281.21 | 3.65% |
| 2001 | $291.54 | 3.68% |
| 2002 | $299.57 | 2.75% |
| 2003 | $307.65 | 2.70% |
| 2004 | $319.85 | 3.96% |
| 2005 | $330.41 | 3.30% |
| 2006 | $335.52 | 1.55% |
| 2007 | $348.55 | 3.89% |
| 2008 | $357.86 | 2.67% |
| 2009 | $368.77 | 3.05% |
| 2010 | $380.84 | 3.27% |
| 2011 | $391.15 | 2.71% |
| 2012 | $399.20 | 2.06% |
| 2013 | $407.08 | 1.97% |
| 2014 | $412.76 | 1.39% |
| 2015 | $420.78 | 1.95% |
| 2016 | $434.58 | 3.28% |
| 2017 | $436.88 | 0.53% |
| 2018 | $437.30 | 0.10% |
| 2019 | $440.49 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $448.16 | 1.74% |
| 2021 | $467.27 | 4.26% |
| 2022 | $473.48 | 1.33% |
| 2023 | $474.23 | 0.16% |
| 2024 | $480.38 | 1.30% |
| 2025 | $492.43 | 2.51% |
| 2026 | $494.97 | 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 |