December 10, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Consumer health care spending in 2001

In 2001, consumer spending on health care increased 5.6 percent. This followed an increase of 5.5 percent in 2000.

Annual percent change in consumer expenditures, overall and health care, 1995-2001
[Chart data—TXT]

In contrast, in the 1996-1999 period, rises in health care spending by consumers were in the range of 2.0 to 4.0 percent. In two of those years, health care expenditures rose less than overall expenditures.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey is the source of these data. Consumer Expenditure Survey data also include the expenditures and income of consumers, as well as the demographic characteristics of those consumers. For more information, see news release USDL 02-667, Consumer Expenditures in 2001.