According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for prescription drugs are 1,134.92% higher in 2026 versus 1968 (a $113.49 difference in value).
Between 1968 and 2026:Prescription drugs experienced an average inflation rate of 4.43% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, prescription drugs costing $10 in the year 1968 would cost $123.49 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.92% during this same period, inflation for prescription drugs was higher.
In the year 1968: Pricing changed by -1.76%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for prescription drugs during the 1968-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1968 (4.27%), inflation for prescription drugs was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Prescription drugs, over time, for $10 beginning in 1968. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | $10.00 | -1.76% |
| 1969 | $10.11 | 1.12% |
| 1970 | $10.29 | 1.72% |
| 1971 | $10.29 | 0.05% |
| 1972 | $10.25 | -0.42% |
| 1973 | $10.22 | -0.32% |
| 1974 | $10.46 | 2.43% |
| 1975 | $11.11 | 6.15% |
| 1976 | $11.71 | 5.44% |
| 1977 | $12.41 | 5.98% |
| 1978 | $13.38 | 7.80% |
| 1979 | $14.41 | 7.71% |
| 1980 | $15.73 | 9.14% |
| 1981 | $17.53 | 11.48% |
| 1982 | $19.58 | 11.68% |
| 1983 | $21.73 | 10.98% |
| 1984 | $23.81 | 9.59% |
| 1985 | $26.07 | 9.48% |
| 1986 | $28.31 | 8.59% |
| 1987 | $30.58 | 8.00% |
| 1988 | $33.00 | 7.93% |
| 1989 | $35.87 | 8.69% |
| 1990 | $39.44 | 9.96% |
| 1991 | $43.34 | 9.89% |
| 1992 | $46.61 | 7.55% |
| 1993 | $48.41 | 3.86% |
| 1994 | $50.05 | 3.38% |
| 1995 | $51.02 | 1.93% |
| 1996 | $52.72 | 3.33% |
| 1997 | $54.11 | 2.64% |
| 1998 | $56.14 | 3.76% |
| 1999 | $59.34 | 5.70% |
| 2000 | $61.96 | 4.41% |
| 2001 | $65.31 | 5.40% |
| 2002 | $68.70 | 5.20% |
| 2003 | $70.82 | 3.09% |
| 2004 | $73.17 | 3.32% |
| 2005 | $75.76 | 3.54% |
| 2006 | $79.00 | 4.28% |
| 2007 | $80.14 | 1.43% |
| 2008 | $82.12 | 2.47% |
| 2009 | $84.89 | 3.38% |
| 2010 | $88.53 | 4.29% |
| 2011 | $92.25 | 4.21% |
| 2012 | $95.55 | 3.57% |
| 2013 | $96.07 | 0.55% |
| 2014 | $99.50 | 3.56% |
| 2015 | $104.05 | 4.58% |
| 2016 | $109.08 | 4.84% |
| 2017 | $112.80 | 3.40% |
| 2018 | $114.62 | 1.61% |
| 2019 | $114.35 | -0.23% |
| 2020 | $115.50 | 1.01% |
| 2021 | $113.40 | -1.82% |
| 2022 | $115.90 | 2.21% |
| 2023 | $119.27 | 2.91% |
| 2024 | $120.90 | 1.36% |
| 2025 | $123.29 | 1.98% |
| 2026 | $123.49 | 0.16%* |
* 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 Prescription drugs:
| 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 | 38.200 | 41.075 | 42.175 | 43.133 | 45.400 | 45.975 | 46.025 | 46.850 | 47.433 | 48.983 | 50.442 | 52.808 | 54.125 | 54.075 | 52.283 | 50.275 | 48.967 | 48.450 | 47.850 | 47.658 | 46.892 | 46.067 | 46.583 | 47.383 | 47.408 | 47.208 | 47.058 | 48.200 | 51.167 | 53.950 | 57.175 | 61.633 | 66.383 | 72.450 | 80.767 | 90.200 | 100.100 | 109.700 | 120.100 | 130.417 | 140.850 | 152.017 | 165.233 | 181.683 | 199.658 | 214.733 | 223.025 | 230.567 | 235.025 | 242.858 | 249.258 | 258.625 | 273.375 | 285.425 | 300.850 | 316.483 | 326.267 | 337.083 | 349.017 | 363.942 | 369.157 | 378.284 | 391.055 | 407.824 | 424.981 | 440.149 | 442.580 | 458.343 | 479.315 | 502.510 | 519.618 | 528.008 | 526.785 | 532.081 | 522.392 | 533.925 | 549.458 | 556.941 | 567.976 | 568.885 |