Upstream Pressure

Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI)

Tracking worsening relative to recent baseline.

What is the current Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI)?

HEALTHCARE INFLATION PREMIUM (MEDICAL CPI MIN
1.04 pts ↑ Worsening
Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI)

Healthcare inflation is running 1.04 percentage points above overall CPI in the latest reading. This premium — the gap between medical care CPI and all-items CPI — measures how much faster healthcare costs are rising compared to general prices. A persistent premium means healthcare is steadily consuming a larger share of household budgets. Source: BLS (CUSR0000SAM minus CPIAUCSL).

Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI) rising to +0.6 pts

Tracking worsening relative to recent baseline.

Source: Computed (Medical Care CPI - CPI All Items YoY) via official source ↗
Related signals confirming this trend
The Coverage Tax
3.22 pts↑Worsening
Car insurance premiums are still rising faster than everything else you buy
Upstream Pressure
The Warning Light
72↓Improving
The recession signal that's never been wrong has been flashing for a year
Upstream Pressure
The Card Tax
20.97%
The price of carrying a balance has never been higher
Upstream Pressure

Explore Further

📊 Cost of Living & Inflation Statistics 2026 → 📖 What Is Consumer Price Index (CPI)? → 📖 What Is Cost Burden? →

How has Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI) changed over time?

CSV Chart Card
Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI) over time
Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI), percentage_points
Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI)
Data: Computed (Medical Care CPI - CPI All Items YoY) Updated Mar 2026
Historical data
Monthly · Computed (Medical Care CPI - CPI All Items YoY)
Period Value YoY Change
Feb 2026 1.04 pts +1.0 pts
Jan 2026 0.59 pts +1.0 pts
Dec 2025 0.27 pts +0.3 pts
Nov 2025 0.18 pts −0.2 pts
Sep 2025 0.27 pts −0.6 pts
Aug 2025 0.54 pts +0.1 pts
Jul 2025 0.77 pts +0.5 pts
Jun 2025 0.07 pts −0.2 pts
May 2025 0.08 pts +0.3 pts
Apr 2025 0.4 pts +1.1 pts
Mar 2025 0.26 pts +1.5 pts
Feb 2025 0.09 pts +1.8 pts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the healthcare inflation premium?

It measures the gap between medical care CPI inflation and overall CPI inflation. Currently 1.04 percentage points, meaning healthcare costs are rising faster than general prices.

Why does this gap matter?

When healthcare costs consistently outpace overall inflation, they consume an ever-larger share of household budgets. This is a component of the Cost Pressure dimension of the American Distress Index.

Where does this data come from?

Computed from two BLS series: medical care CPI (CUSR0000SAM) minus all-items CPI (CPIAUCSL).

Quick poll

Is this affecting you or your household?

Anonymous · one vote per indicator

Create a free account to save indicators to your watchlist and get weekly updates.

Create Free Account →

Discussion

Loading comments…

Free Resource
Know Your Rights
Foreclosure timelines, bankruptcy protections, and debt collector rules — state-by-state legal guides written in plain English.
Browse state guides →
Free Counseling
Talk to a HUD Counselor
HUD-approved housing counselors provide free, confidential help with mortgage problems, foreclosure prevention, and credit counseling.
Find a counselor →

Why does Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI) matter?

Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI) is one of 91 indicators in the American Distress Index's upstream pressure layer — the signal that predicted the 2008 crisis two years before delinquency data confirmed it.
View methodology →
🛟
If you're struggling with debt or facing foreclosure, free help is available. Find help near you · Browse the Glossary · The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides HUD-approved housing counselors at no cost. You can also call 1-800-569-4287.