Consumers see doc-office prices edge up in November

Consumer prices for hospital services climbed 0.9% in November, up from 0.3% the prior month and 0.2% for the same month a year ago, newly released Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show. The seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index for hospitals increased 7.7% for the year ended in November compared with 5.9% a year ago.

For physician services, consumer prices increased 0.1% for the second straight month in November compared with 0.3% in November 2008. For the year that ended in November, consumer prices increased 2.7% after rising 2.9% during the prior 12 months.

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