According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for prescription drugs are 1,389.23% higher in 2026 versus 1947 (a $138.92 difference in value).
Between 1947 and 2026: Prescription drugs experienced an average inflation rate of 3.48% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, prescription drugs costing $10 in the year 1947 would cost $148.92 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.44% during this same period, inflation for prescription drugs was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Prescription drugs, over time, for $10 beginning in 1947. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | $10.00 | - |
| 1948 | $10.75 | 7.53% |
| 1949 | $11.04 | 2.68% |
| 1950 | $11.29 | 2.27% |
| 1951 | $11.88 | 5.26% |
| 1952 | $12.04 | 1.27% |
| 1953 | $12.05 | 0.11% |
| 1954 | $12.26 | 1.79% |
| 1955 | $12.42 | 1.25% |
| 1956 | $12.82 | 3.27% |
| 1957 | $13.20 | 2.98% |
| 1958 | $13.82 | 4.69% |
| 1959 | $14.17 | 2.49% |
| 1960 | $14.16 | -0.09% |
| 1961 | $13.69 | -3.31% |
| 1962 | $13.16 | -3.84% |
| 1963 | $12.82 | -2.60% |
| 1964 | $12.68 | -1.06% |
| 1965 | $12.53 | -1.24% |
| 1966 | $12.48 | -0.40% |
| 1967 | $12.28 | -1.61% |
| 1968 | $12.06 | -1.76% |
| 1969 | $12.19 | 1.12% |
| 1970 | $12.40 | 1.72% |
| 1971 | $12.41 | 0.05% |
| 1972 | $12.36 | -0.42% |
| 1973 | $12.32 | -0.32% |
| 1974 | $12.62 | 2.43% |
| 1975 | $13.39 | 6.15% |
| 1976 | $14.12 | 5.44% |
| 1977 | $14.97 | 5.98% |
| 1978 | $16.13 | 7.80% |
| 1979 | $17.38 | 7.71% |
| 1980 | $18.97 | 9.14% |
| 1981 | $21.14 | 11.48% |
| 1982 | $23.61 | 11.68% |
| 1983 | $26.20 | 10.98% |
| 1984 | $28.72 | 9.59% |
| 1985 | $31.44 | 9.48% |
| 1986 | $34.14 | 8.59% |
| 1987 | $36.87 | 8.00% |
| 1988 | $39.79 | 7.93% |
| 1989 | $43.25 | 8.69% |
| 1990 | $47.56 | 9.96% |
| 1991 | $52.27 | 9.89% |
| 1992 | $56.21 | 7.55% |
| 1993 | $58.38 | 3.86% |
| 1994 | $60.36 | 3.38% |
| 1995 | $61.52 | 1.93% |
| 1996 | $63.58 | 3.33% |
| 1997 | $65.25 | 2.64% |
| 1998 | $67.70 | 3.76% |
| 1999 | $71.56 | 5.70% |
| 2000 | $74.72 | 4.41% |
| 2001 | $78.76 | 5.40% |
| 2002 | $82.85 | 5.20% |
| 2003 | $85.41 | 3.09% |
| 2004 | $88.24 | 3.32% |
| 2005 | $91.37 | 3.54% |
| 2006 | $95.27 | 4.28% |
| 2007 | $96.64 | 1.43% |
| 2008 | $99.03 | 2.47% |
| 2009 | $102.37 | 3.38% |
| 2010 | $106.76 | 4.29% |
| 2011 | $111.25 | 4.21% |
| 2012 | $115.22 | 3.57% |
| 2013 | $115.86 | 0.55% |
| 2014 | $119.99 | 3.56% |
| 2015 | $125.48 | 4.58% |
| 2016 | $131.55 | 4.84% |
| 2017 | $136.03 | 3.40% |
| 2018 | $138.22 | 1.61% |
| 2019 | $137.90 | -0.23% |
| 2020 | $139.29 | 1.01% |
| 2021 | $136.75 | -1.82% |
| 2022 | $139.77 | 2.21% |
| 2023 | $143.84 | 2.91% |
| 2024 | $145.80 | 1.36% |
| 2025 | $148.68 | 1.98% |
| 2026 | $148.92 | 0.16%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Prescription drugs:
| Year | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 38.200 | 41.075 | 42.175 | 43.133 | 45.400 | 45.975 | 46.025 | 46.850 | 47.433 | 48.983 | 50.442 | 52.808 | 54.125 | 54.075 | 52.283 | 50.275 | 48.967 | 48.450 | 47.850 | 47.658 | 46.892 | 46.067 | 46.583 | 47.383 | 47.408 | 47.208 | 47.058 | 48.200 | 51.167 | 53.950 | 57.175 | 61.633 | 66.383 | 72.450 | 80.767 | 90.200 | 100.100 | 109.700 | 120.100 | 130.417 | 140.850 | 152.017 | 165.233 | 181.683 | 199.658 | 214.733 | 223.025 | 230.567 | 235.025 | 242.858 | 249.258 | 258.625 | 273.375 | 285.425 | 300.850 | 316.483 | 326.267 | 337.083 | 349.017 | 363.942 | 369.157 | 378.284 | 391.055 | 407.824 | 424.981 | 440.149 | 442.580 | 458.343 | 479.315 | 502.510 | 519.618 | 528.008 | 526.785 | 532.081 | 522.392 | 533.925 | 549.458 | 556.941 | 567.976 | 568.885 |