In December 2006, hospital prices rose 0.5% over the previous month and were 3.8% higher than they were 12 months earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. For general medical and surgical hospitals, the one-month price increase was 0.4% and for specialty hospitals it was flat. From December 2005 to December 2006, prices rose 3.7% for general medical and surgical hospitals and 10.2% for specialty hospitals. The Consumer Price Index is a measure of the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by American households. Read the news release.
