Hospital consumer prices climbed 0.2% in January after December's 0.7% increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index. The figures are seasonally adjusted. In January 2011, the hospital CPI increased 0.3%. Last month's gain was a result of growth in inpatient hospital consumer prices, which increased 0.4% in January. Meanwhile, outpatient hospital consumer prices dropped 0.1%.
Hospital consumer prices increased 4.7% for the year that ended in January compared with 5.8% the prior year.
Consumer prices for physician services increased 0.1% in January after remaining flat in December. In January 2011, the physician consumer prices dropped 0.1%. For the year ended in January, the physician service CPI increased 2.2% compared with 2.4% the year before.
