The Producer Price Index (PPI) for June increased more than expected, as the effect of the drop in oil prices abated. As shown in Table I, producer price growth for health goods and services was in line with tame growth in overall PPI, which grew 0.4 percent on the month and dropped 0.7 percent on … Continue reading Producer Price Index: Pharma, Biologics Jump
February’s Producer Price Index rose 0.3 percent. However, prices for many health goods and services grew slowly, if at all. Nine of the 16 price indices for health goods and services grew slower than their benchmarks.* Prices for medical lab and diagnostic imaging actually deflated in absolute terms. Even pharmaceutical preparations for final demand, for … Continue reading PPI: Health Prices Mixed, Inflation Low
January’s Producer Price Index rose 0.6 percent. However, prices for many health goods and services grew slowly, if at all. Nine of the 16 price indices for health goods and services grew slower than their benchmarks.* Prices for six of the categories of health goods and services deflated in absolute terms. The outlier was pharmaceutical … Continue reading PPI: Health Prices Mixed Amidst Inflation
December’s Producer Price Index rose 0.3 percent. However, prices for most health goods and services grew slowly, if at all. Fifteen of the 16 price indices for health goods and services grew slower than their benchmarks.* The outlier was health and medical insurance for final demand, which increased by 0.2 percent, the same rate as … Continue reading PPI: Pharma Prices Are Dropping!
November’s Producer Price Index rose 0.4 percent. However, prices for most health goods and services grew slowly, if at all. Nine of the 16 price indices for health goods and services grew slower than their benchmarks.* The major exceptions were prices for pharmaceutical preparations, which increased 0.4 percentage points more than prices for final demand … Continue reading PPI: Most Health Prices Tame, Inflation Picks Up
The Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent in October. Remarkably, medical prices were flat overall. This is the second month in a row we have enjoyed medical price relief. Even prescription drugs rose by only 0.2 percent, half the rate of headline CPI, while prices of non-prescription drugs dropped significantly. Even the price of health … Continue reading CPI: Flat Medical Prices Lower Than Inflation
October’s Producer Price Index was flat. However, prices for most health goods and services grew slowly, if at all. Seven of the 15 price indices for health goods and services declined. The major exception was prices for dental care, which increased 1.5 percent. Dental care is dominated neither by government nor private insurance, so dental … Continue reading PPI: Health Prices Tame, Inflation Flat
September’s Producer Price Index rose 0.3 percent, a significant pick up. However, prices for most health goods and services grew slowly, if at all. Eleven of the 15 prices for health goods and services reported grew slower than the headline PPI. The major exception was prices for pharmaceutical preparations, which increased 1.2 percent, resuming a … Continue reading PPI: Health Prices (Except Pharmaceuticals) Stay Tame As Other Prices Rise
As with July’s Producer Price Index, health price inflation is no longer eye-popping, but still higher than overall PPI, which was flat in August. Hospital outpatient care stands out, with prices having risen 1.1 percent, monthly. Other price increases were moderate, but only prices of X-Ray machines and electromedical equipment declined. This is also true … Continue reading PPI: Health Prices Up Among Zero Overall Inflation
This morning’s Producer Price Index came in unexpectedly low, decreasing 0.4 percent versus an expected slight increase of 0.1 percent. Except for nursing home care, which increased 0.9 percent, producer prices for medical goods and services decreased or increased very modestly. Of 15 medical goods and services measured in the PPI, four actually experienced price … Continue reading PPI: Health Price Inflation Low, But Not Low Enough