The Consumer Price Index for hospitals increased 0.3% in September after no change the month before, federal data show.
The measure of inflation, published monthly, shows outpatient hospital consumer prices increased more rapidly in September, at 0.4%, than did inpatient prices, which rose 0.1%.
The overall hospital CPI increased 4.5% during the 12 months that ended last month, compared with 5.4% the prior 12 months.
Physician service prices did not change, according to the CPI, one of two U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' indices that track price movement. Consumer prices for physician services were flat last month following a 0.4% increase in August. For the year that ended in September, physician service prices increased 1.4% compared with 1.2% the prior year.
Follow Melanie Evans on Twitter: @MHmevans
Send us a letter
Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.
