US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change) in United States

US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change) in the United States was 1.5% in September 2026, according to BLS. That is down 1.8 pts from September 2025.

September 20261.5%

Change on September 2025-1.8 pts

Series high12.5December 1981

Series low-1.4September 2023

Next release: Tuesday, 10 November 2026, 08:30 ET, announced by BLS. Release calendar

US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change) in United States, September 1976 to September 2026

%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-18, published 2026-10-14.

All 600 values

Period	%
2026-09	1.5
2026-08	1.6
2026-07	1.7
2026-06	2
2026-05	2.6
2026-04	2.5
2026-03	3.1
2026-02	3.4
2026-01	3.2
2025-12	3.2
2025-11	2.9
2025-09	3.3
2025-08	3.4
2025-07	3.5
2025-06	2.8
2025-05	2.5
2025-04	2.7
2025-03	2.6
2025-02	2.9
2025-01	2.6
2024-12	2.8
2024-11	3.1
2024-10	3.3
2024-09	3.3
2024-08	3
2024-07	3.2
2024-06	3.3
2024-05	3.1
2024-04	2.6
2024-03	2.2
2024-02	1.4
2024-01	1.1
2023-12	0.5
2023-11	0.2
2023-10	-0.8
2023-09	-1.4
2023-08	-1
2023-07	-0.5
2023-06	0.1
2023-05	0.7
2023-04	1.1
2023-03	1.5
2023-02	2.3
2023-01	3.1
2022-12	4
2022-11	4.2
2022-10	5
2022-09	6
2022-08	5.4
2022-07	4.8
2022-06	4.5
2022-05	3.7
2022-04	3.2
2022-03	2.9
2022-02	2.4
2022-01	2.5
2021-12	2.2
2021-11	1.7
2021-10	1.3
2021-09	0.4
2021-08	0.4
2021-07	0.3
2021-06	0.4
2021-05	0.9
2021-04	1.5
2021-03	1.8
2021-02	2
2021-01	1.9
2020-12	1.8
2020-11	2.4
2020-10	2.9
2020-09	4.2
2020-08	4.5
2020-07	5
2020-06	5.1
2020-05	4.9
2020-04	4.8
2020-03	4.7
2020-02	4.6
2020-01	4.5
2019-12	4.6
2019-11	4.2
2019-10	4.3
2019-09	3.5
2019-08	3.5
2019-07	2.6
2019-06	2
2019-05	2.1
2019-04	1.9
2019-03	1.7
2019-02	1.7
2019-01	1.9
2018-12	2
2018-11	2
2018-10	1.7
2018-09	1.7
2018-08	1.5
2018-07	1.9
2018-06	2.5
2018-05	2.4
2018-04	2.2
2018-03	2
2018-02	1.8
2018-01	2
2017-12	1.8
2017-11	1.7
2017-10	1.7
2017-09	1.6
2017-08	1.8
2017-07	2.6
2017-06	2.7
2017-05	2.7
2017-04	3
2017-03	3.5
2017-02	3.5
2017-01	3.9
2016-12	4.1
2016-11	4
2016-10	4.3
2016-09	4.9
2016-08	4.9
2016-07	3.9
2016-06	3.5
2016-05	3.1
2016-04	3
2016-03	3.3
2016-02	3.5
2016-01	3
2015-12	2.6
2015-11	2.9
2015-10	3
2015-09	2.5
2015-08	2.5
2015-07	2.5
2015-06	2.5
2015-05	2.8
2015-04	2.9
2015-03	2.5
2015-02	2.3
2015-01	2.6
2014-12	3
2014-11	2.5
2014-10	2.1
2014-09	2
2014-08	2.1
2014-07	2.6
2014-06	2.6
2014-05	2.8
2014-04	2.4
2014-03	2.2
2014-02	2.3
2014-01	2.1
2013-12	2
2013-11	2.2
2013-10	2.3
2013-09	2.4
2013-08	2.3
2013-07	1.9
2013-06	2.1
2013-05	2.2
2013-04	2.7
2013-03	3.1
2013-02	3.1
2013-01	3.1
2012-12	3.2
2012-11	3.4
2012-10	3.7
2012-09	4.1
2012-08	4.1
2012-07	4.1
2012-06	4
2012-05	3.6
2012-04	3.4
2012-03	3.5
2012-02	3.4
2012-01	3.6
2011-12	3.5
2011-11	3.4
2011-10	3.1
2011-09	2.8
2011-08	3.2
2011-07	3.2
2011-06	2.9
2011-05	3
2011-04	2.9
2011-03	2.7
2011-02	2.9
2011-01	2.9
2010-12	3.3
2010-11	3.2
2010-10	3.4
2010-09	3.4
2010-08	3.2
2010-07	3.2
2010-06	3.5
2010-05	3.4
2010-04	3.6
2010-03	3.7
2010-02	3.6
2010-01	3.5
2009-12	3.4
2009-11	3.5
2009-10	3.5
2009-09	3.5
2009-08	3.3
2009-07	3.2
2009-06	3.2
2009-05	3.2
2009-04	3
2009-03	2.8
2009-02	2.8
2009-01	2.6
2008-12	2.6
2008-11	2.7
2008-10	2.8
2008-09	3.2
2008-08	3.3
2008-07	3.5
2008-06	4
2008-05	4.1
2008-04	4.3
2008-03	4.6
2008-02	4.5
2008-01	4.9
2007-12	5.2
2007-11	5
2007-10	4.8
2007-09	4.6
2007-08	4.5
2007-07	4.3
2007-06	4
2007-05	4
2007-04	4
2007-03	4
2007-02	4.3
2007-01	4.3
2006-12	3.6
2006-11	3.7
2006-10	4
2006-09	4.2
2006-08	4.3
2006-07	4
2006-06	4.1
2006-05	4.2
2006-04	4.1
2006-03	4.1
2006-02	4
2006-01	4
2005-12	4.3
2005-11	4.5
2005-10	4.1
2005-09	3.9
2005-08	3.9
2005-07	4.2
2005-06	4.2
2005-05	4.3
2005-04	4.3
2005-03	4.3
2005-02	4.3
2005-01	4.3
2004-12	4.2
2004-11	4.4
2004-10	4.5
2004-09	4.4
2004-08	4.4
2004-07	4.5
2004-06	4.6
2004-05	4.6
2004-04	4.7
2004-03	4.5
2004-02	4.2
2004-01	3.8
2003-12	3.7
2003-11	3.5
2003-10	3.7
2003-09	4
2003-08	3.9
2003-07	3.8
2003-06	4.1
2003-05	4
2003-04	4
2003-03	4.3
2003-02	4.5
2003-01	4.6
2002-12	5
2002-11	5
2002-10	4.8
2002-09	4.6
2002-08	4.7
2002-07	4.9
2002-06	4.5
2002-05	4.7
2002-04	4.6
2002-03	4.4
2002-02	4.5
2002-01	4.7
2001-12	4.7
2001-11	4.8
2001-10	4.6
2001-09	4.5
2001-08	4.5
2001-07	4.5
2001-06	4.6
2001-05	4.6
2001-04	4.6
2001-03	4.6
2001-02	4.6
2001-01	4.5
2000-12	4.2
2000-11	4.3
2000-10	4.3
2000-09	4.3
2000-08	4.2
2000-07	4.1
2000-06	4.1
2000-05	4
2000-04	3.9
2000-03	3.9
2000-02	3.8
2000-01	3.6
1999-12	3.7
1999-11	3.5
1999-10	3.5
1999-09	3.4
1999-08	3.4
1999-07	3.5
1999-06	3.4
1999-05	3.4
1999-04	3.5
1999-03	3.5
1999-02	3.5
1999-01	3.6
1998-12	3.4
1998-11	3.5
1998-10	3.6
1998-09	3.6
1998-08	3.5
1998-07	3.4
1998-06	3.2
1998-05	3.1
1998-04	3
1998-03	2.7
1998-02	2.8
1998-01	2.7
1997-12	2.8
1997-11	2.6
1997-10	2.5
1997-09	2.6
1997-08	2.6
1997-07	2.7
1997-06	2.9
1997-05	3
1997-04	3
1997-03	3
1997-02	2.9
1997-01	2.9
1996-12	3
1996-11	3.1
1996-10	3.2
1996-09	3.3
1996-08	3.4
1996-07	3.6
1996-06	3.6
1996-05	3.7
1996-04	3.7
1996-03	3.8
1996-02	3.8
1996-01	4
1995-12	3.9
1995-11	4.1
1995-10	4.2
1995-09	4.4
1995-08	4.4
1995-07	4.4
1995-06	4.5
1995-05	4.6
1995-04	4.6
1995-03	4.8
1995-02	4.9
1995-01	4.9
1994-12	4.9
1994-11	4.8
1994-10	4.7
1994-09	4.7
1994-08	4.6
1994-07	4.6
1994-06	4.6
1994-05	4.6
1994-04	4.9
1994-03	4.9
1994-02	4.9
1994-01	5.1
1993-12	5.4
1993-11	5.5
1993-10	5.7
1993-09	5.7
1993-08	6
1993-07	6
1993-06	6.2
1993-05	6.3
1993-04	6
1993-03	6
1993-02	6.3
1993-01	6.6
1992-12	6.6
1992-11	6.9
1992-10	7
1992-09	7
1992-08	7
1992-07	7.4
1992-06	7.5
1992-05	7.7
1992-04	7.9
1992-03	7.8
1992-02	7.9
1992-01	7.8
1991-12	7.9
1991-11	8
1991-10	8.1
1991-09	8.4
1991-08	8.4
1991-07	8.6
1991-06	8.8
1991-05	9
1991-04	9.1
1991-03	9.5
1991-02	9.5
1991-01	9.7
1990-12	9.6
1990-11	9.4
1990-10	9.4
1990-09	9.3
1990-08	9.5
1990-07	9.2
1990-06	9
1990-05	9
1990-04	8.9
1990-03	8.6
1990-02	8.5
1990-01	8.4
1989-12	8.5
1989-11	8.5
1989-10	8.1
1989-09	8
1989-08	7.7
1989-07	7.5
1989-06	7.5
1989-05	7.3
1989-04	7.2
1989-03	7.2
1989-02	7.2
1989-01	7
1988-12	6.9
1988-11	6.8
1988-10	6.7
1988-09	6.6
1988-08	6.6
1988-07	6.6
1988-06	6.4
1988-05	6.4
1988-04	6.4
1988-03	6.4
1988-02	6.4
1988-01	6.2
1987-12	5.8
1987-11	6.1
1987-10	6.3
1987-09	6.4
1987-08	6.5
1987-07	6.8
1987-06	6.8
1987-05	6.8
1987-04	6.8
1987-03	6.8
1987-02	7.1
1987-01	7.6
1986-12	7.7
1986-11	7.7
1986-10	7.7
1986-09	7.7
1986-08	7.6
1986-07	7.7
1986-06	7.5
1986-05	7.6
1986-04	7.5
1986-03	7.4
1986-02	7.2
1986-01	6.9
1985-12	6.8
1985-11	6.6
1985-10	6.5
1985-09	6.6
1985-08	6.5
1985-07	6.2
1985-06	6.3
1985-05	6
1985-04	6
1985-03	5.9
1985-02	5.5
1985-01	5.9
1984-12	6.1
1984-11	6.2
1984-10	6.2
1984-09	6.1
1984-08	6
1984-07	6.4
1984-06	6.3
1984-05	6.4
1984-04	6.3
1984-03	6.3
1984-02	6.3
1984-01	6.2
1983-12	6.4
1983-11	6.6
1983-10	7.1
1983-09	7.5
1983-08	8.1
1983-07	8.4
1983-06	8.9
1983-05	9.3
1983-04	9.8
1983-03	10.5
1983-02	11.1
1983-01	11
1982-12	11
1982-11	10.9
1982-10	11.2
1982-09	11.4
1982-08	11.3
1982-07	11.7
1982-06	11.9
1982-05	12
1982-04	12.1
1982-03	12
1982-02	11.8
1982-01	12.1
1981-12	12.5
1981-11	12.3
1981-10	11.7
1981-09	11.4
1981-08	11.5
1981-07	10.8
1981-06	10.2
1981-05	9.7
1981-04	9.5
1981-03	9.4
1981-02	9.6
1981-01	10.1
1980-12	9.9
1980-11	10.7
1980-10	11
1980-09	11.1
1980-08	11
1980-07	11.3
1980-06	11.4
1980-05	11.6
1980-04	11.5
1980-03	11.2
1980-02	10.8
1980-01	10
1979-12	10.1
1979-11	9.2
1979-10	9.3
1979-09	9.4
1979-08	9.3
1979-07	9.2
1979-06	9.1
1979-05	8.8
1979-04	9.1
1979-03	9.1
1979-02	9
1979-01	9.2
1978-12	8.8
1978-11	9
1978-10	8.6
1978-09	7.9
1978-08	8
1978-07	7.9
1978-06	7.9
1978-05	8.3
1978-04	8.2
1978-03	8.6
1978-02	9.1
1978-01	9
1977-12	8.9
1977-11	8.7
1977-10	9.6
1977-09	9.8
1977-08	9.7
1977-07	9.8
1977-06	9.9
1977-05	9.7
1977-04	9.8
1977-03	9.4
1977-02	9.5
1977-01	9.9
1976-12	10
1976-11	10.5
1976-10	9
1976-09	9.1

Definition

Percent change of the CPI-U for medical care, US city average, not seasonally adjusted, from the same month a year earlier. Medical care commodities (prescription and nonprescription drugs, medical equipment and supplies) and medical care services (professional services, hospital services and health insurance).

United States only. Calculated from the index (cpi_index_medical_care, series CUUR0000SAM) and rounded to one decimal as BLS rounds its published 12-month changes; each value shows both index values. For all items inflation use cpi_annual_change. Covers what consumers pay out of pocket and through health insurance premiums; spending paid by employers and government programs is out of scope.

Report a problem with this figure

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.15.USMedical. Retrieved 2026-10-18.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM) (US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09) [Data set]. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.15.USMedical

MLA 9

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM), US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 14 Oct. 2026, https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.15.USMedical. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-medical-care/united-states. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM). US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09. Dataset. Accessed October 18, 2026. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.15.USMedical. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-medical-care/united-states.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM), US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09 [Dataset]. Available at: https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.15.USMedical, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-medical-care/united-states (Accessed: 18 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{bureau_us_inflation_medical_care_2026,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM): US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.15.USMedical},
  urldate = {2026-10-18},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-medical-care/united-states. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.15.USMedical. Retrieved 2026-10-18.},
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM): US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/14
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.15.USMedical
L2  - https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-medical-care/united-states
Y2  - 2026/10/18
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-medical-care/united-states.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.15.USMedical. Retrieved 2026-10-18.
ER  -

Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Embed code

<iframe src="https://invokely.ai/embed/us-inflation-medical-care/united-states" width="760" height="440" title="US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, chart from Invokely" loading="lazy" style="border:0;width:100%;max-width:760px" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe>

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

What is the latest US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change) in United States? Cite the source.

get_value {"indicator":"cpi_annual_change_medical_care","place":"us"}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/value?indicator=cpi_annual_change_medical_care&place=us

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

What is the US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change) in United States?

US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change) in the United States was 1.5% in September 2026, according to BLS. That is down 1.8 pts from September 2025.

Where does this figure come from?

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): medical care, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAM). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-18.

What was the highest US inflation, medical care (CPI-U 12-month change) in United States?

12.5% in December 1981, the highest value since September 1976 in this series.

Related statistics for United States

All statistics for United States | United States in figures