Deflation in the Producer Price Index (PPI) continued last month, as the PPI for final demand dropped 0.1 percent from February. Prices for final demand goods, less volatile food and energy, increased 0.2 percent. Most prices for health goods for final demand were flat. The exception – again – was pharmaceutical preparations, for which prices increased 0.4 percent.

With respect to final demand services, for which prices dropped 0.2 percent (or increased just 0.1 percent, less trade, transportation, and warehousing), prices of medical services changed little. Even the price of health insurance remained flat, after an increase in February.

With respect to goods for intermediate demand, prices for chemicals (which go into pharmaceutical preparations) increased by just 0.1 percent, while prices of biologic products (including diagnostics) dropped the same percentage. With respect to services for intermediate demand, prices for health insurance remained flat, although prices for other intermediate services declined.

Looking back over the 12-month period, the price increase of 9.8 percent in pharmaceutical preparations continues to stand out like a sore thumb. Political agitation against drug prices is unlikely to go away soon. (See Table I below the fold.) Continue reading PPI: Pharmaceutical Prices Up Amid Deflation →

Deflation returned to the Producer Price Index (PPI) last month, as the PPI for final demand dropped 0.2 percent from January. Prices for final demand goods, less volatile food and energy, increased 0.1 percent. Most prices for health goods for final demand were flat. The exception – again – was pharmaceutical preparations, for which prices increased 1.2 percent.

With respect to final demand services, for which inflation was flat (or up 0.3 percent less trade, transportation, and warehousing), the increase in the price of health insurance stands out at 0.9 percent. This is the first jump in health insurance for a while. (Home health prices also increased 1 percent, but such increases have been common.)

With respect to goods for intermediate demand, prices for chemicals (which go into pharmaceutical preparations) decreased, but not by nearly as much as prices for other intermediate goods declined. With respect to services for intermediate demand, prices for health insurance increased by 0.9 percent, significantly more than prices for other intermediate services.

Looking back over the 12-month period, the price increase of 10.1 percent in pharmaceutical preparations continues to stand out like a sore thumb. However prices for services delivered in residential settings have also increased more than other services.

What is new for February is the increase in health insurance. Increasing health costs are finally being passed on through premiums. (See Table I below the fold.) Continue reading PPI: Health Insurance Jumps, Deflation Returns →

December’s surprising jump in physician prices looks to have been idiosyncratic. January’s Producer Price Index for physician services declined 0.6 percent, versus a 0.5 percent rise in prices of final demand services. Prices for home health and hospice care increased 0.7 percent on the month. However, other prices for final demand health services were in line with other services inflation.

For final demand goods, prices for pharmaceutical preparations increased 1.6 percent, versus zero change for final demand goods less food and energy. (When the next Consumer Price Index is released on February 19, we will see whether the divergence between pharmaceutical prices in the PPI and CPI continues.) With respect to intermediate demand goods, prices of biologics, including diagnostics, increased 1.1 percent, versus a 1.3 percent decline in prices of processed goods, less foods and feeds.

It does not look like complaints about high and increasing prices for pharmaceuticals and biologics will be going away soon. (See Table I below the fold.) Continue reading PPI: Physician Prices Pull Back →

The stock market took a hit this morning, as the Producer Price Index turned back to deflation, dropping 0.2 percent in December and 0.1 percent in 2015 (Table I). Health prices are still growing faster than other prices. This is especially true for pharmaceuticals, for which prices increased 8.2 percent last year, versus a 3.7 percent decline in prices for final demand goods. Although political attacks on pharmaceutical prices are misguided, it is likely they will continue as long as this situation persists.

With respect to services, health price inflation is not as extreme. However, the jump of 1.3 percent for physician prices in December is remarkable. Continue reading PPI: Physician Prices Jump Amidst Deflation →

August’s Producer Price Index was flat, month on month, and dropped 0.8 percent, year on year, continuing the trend we saw last month. Producer prices for health goods and services are rising faster than other producer prices (see Table I).

Continue reading PPI: Gap in Hospital Inpatient & Outpatient Prices →

The Producer Price Index (PPI) for July increased more than expected, but was still benign. Health-related producer prices were tame last month.

Prices for pharmaceutical preparations, which have increased faster than other producer goods in the long term (rising 9.4 percent since July 2014), finally turned around and actually dropped 0.4 percent last month (See Table I). This was a bigger decline than prices for all final demand goods (-0.1 percent) or for all final demand (0.2 percent). Continue reading Health-Related Producer Prices Tame in July →