Altarum: Health care price growth at historic low

Health care prices grew 1% year-over-year in September, matching the multi-decade low hit in August 2013, according to the latest Economic Indicators from Altarum Institute's Center for Sustainable Health Spending. The 12-month moving average dropped to 1.2% growth, tying the all-time low for Altarum’s data series. Year-over-year hospital prices rose 0.7% in September, the lowest rate since June. Health spending growth continued its steady decline since February, falling to 5.5% year-over-year. The health sector added 44,900 jobs in October, reaching a record 10.7% of total employment. Hospitals have added 148,000 jobs since January, a six-fold increase over the same period in 2014.