According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for prescription drugs are 1,099.97% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $110 difference in value).
Between 1971 and 2026:Prescription drugs experienced an average inflation rate of 4.62% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, prescription drugs costing $10 in the year 1971 would cost $120 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.85% during this same period, inflation for prescription drugs was higher.
In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 0.05%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for prescription drugs during the 1971-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.29%), inflation for prescription drugs was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Prescription drugs, over time, for $10 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | $10.00 | 0.05% |
| 1972 | $9.96 | -0.42% |
| 1973 | $9.93 | -0.32% |
| 1974 | $10.17 | 2.43% |
| 1975 | $10.79 | 6.15% |
| 1976 | $11.38 | 5.44% |
| 1977 | $12.06 | 5.98% |
| 1978 | $13.00 | 7.80% |
| 1979 | $14.00 | 7.71% |
| 1980 | $15.28 | 9.14% |
| 1981 | $17.04 | 11.48% |
| 1982 | $19.03 | 11.68% |
| 1983 | $21.11 | 10.98% |
| 1984 | $23.14 | 9.59% |
| 1985 | $25.33 | 9.48% |
| 1986 | $27.51 | 8.59% |
| 1987 | $29.71 | 8.00% |
| 1988 | $32.07 | 7.93% |
| 1989 | $34.85 | 8.69% |
| 1990 | $38.32 | 9.96% |
| 1991 | $42.11 | 9.89% |
| 1992 | $45.29 | 7.55% |
| 1993 | $47.04 | 3.86% |
| 1994 | $48.63 | 3.38% |
| 1995 | $49.57 | 1.93% |
| 1996 | $51.23 | 3.33% |
| 1997 | $52.58 | 2.64% |
| 1998 | $54.55 | 3.76% |
| 1999 | $57.66 | 5.70% |
| 2000 | $60.21 | 4.41% |
| 2001 | $63.46 | 5.40% |
| 2002 | $66.76 | 5.20% |
| 2003 | $68.82 | 3.09% |
| 2004 | $71.10 | 3.32% |
| 2005 | $73.62 | 3.54% |
| 2006 | $76.77 | 4.28% |
| 2007 | $77.87 | 1.43% |
| 2008 | $79.79 | 2.47% |
| 2009 | $82.49 | 3.38% |
| 2010 | $86.02 | 4.29% |
| 2011 | $89.64 | 4.21% |
| 2012 | $92.84 | 3.57% |
| 2013 | $93.35 | 0.55% |
| 2014 | $96.68 | 3.56% |
| 2015 | $101.10 | 4.58% |
| 2016 | $106.00 | 4.84% |
| 2017 | $109.60 | 3.40% |
| 2018 | $111.37 | 1.61% |
| 2019 | $111.12 | -0.23% |
| 2020 | $112.23 | 1.01% |
| 2021 | $110.19 | -1.82% |
| 2022 | $112.62 | 2.21% |
| 2023 | $115.90 | 2.91% |
| 2024 | $117.48 | 1.36% |
| 2025 | $119.81 | 1.98% |
| 2026 | $120.00 | 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 |