According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for physicians' services are 230.19% higher in 2026 versus 1987 (a $46.04 difference in value).
Between 1987 and 2026:Physicians' services experienced an average inflation rate of 3.11% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, physicians' services costing $20 in the year 1987 would cost $66.04 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.72% during this same period, inflation for physicians' services was higher.
In the year 1987: Pricing changed by 7.37%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for physicians' services during the 1987-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1987 (3.66%), inflation for physicians' services was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Physicians' services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1987. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | $20.00 | 7.37% |
| 1988 | $21.44 | 7.18% |
| 1989 | $23.01 | 7.34% |
| 1990 | $24.67 | 7.19% |
| 1991 | $26.14 | 5.98% |
| 1992 | $27.78 | 6.28% |
| 1993 | $29.33 | 5.59% |
| 1994 | $30.63 | 4.43% |
| 1995 | $32.02 | 4.54% |
| 1996 | $33.18 | 3.62% |
| 1997 | $34.18 | 3.00% |
| 1998 | $35.19 | 2.97% |
| 1999 | $36.20 | 2.85% |
| 2000 | $37.52 | 3.65% |
| 2001 | $38.90 | 3.68% |
| 2002 | $39.97 | 2.75% |
| 2003 | $41.05 | 2.70% |
| 2004 | $42.67 | 3.96% |
| 2005 | $44.08 | 3.30% |
| 2006 | $44.76 | 1.55% |
| 2007 | $46.50 | 3.89% |
| 2008 | $47.75 | 2.67% |
| 2009 | $49.20 | 3.05% |
| 2010 | $50.81 | 3.27% |
| 2011 | $52.19 | 2.71% |
| 2012 | $53.26 | 2.06% |
| 2013 | $54.31 | 1.97% |
| 2014 | $55.07 | 1.39% |
| 2015 | $56.14 | 1.95% |
| 2016 | $57.98 | 3.28% |
| 2017 | $58.29 | 0.53% |
| 2018 | $58.34 | 0.10% |
| 2019 | $58.77 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $59.79 | 1.74% |
| 2021 | $62.34 | 4.26% |
| 2022 | $63.17 | 1.33% |
| 2023 | $63.27 | 0.16% |
| 2024 | $64.09 | 1.30% |
| 2025 | $65.70 | 2.51% |
| 2026 | $66.04 | 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 |