February 2017 Health Sector Economic Indicators Briefs

Health care added only 18,000 jobs in January 2017, the slowest monthly increase since January 2014, which marked the onset of the expanded coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act. By comparison, the 12-month and 24-month average is 31,000 jobs per month. National health spending in 2016 grew by 5.4% according to our preliminary estimates. Growth rates in 2016 among the major categories were fairly consistent, ranging from a low of 5.0% for drugs to a high of 6.0% for physician and clinical services. Hospitals grew by 5.2%. And health care prices in December 2016 grew 2.1% above the December 2015 level, steady at the November rate.

Health care added only 18,000 jobs in January 2017, the slowest monthly increase since January 2014, which marked the onset of the expanded coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act. By comparison, the 12-month and 24-month average is 31,000 jobs per month. National health spending in 2016 grew by 5.4% according to our preliminary estimates. Growth rates in 2016 among the major categories were fairly consistent, ranging from a low of 5.0% for drugs to a high of 6.0% for physician and clinical services. Hospitals grew by 5.2%. And health care prices in December 2016 grew 2.1% above the December 2015 level, steady at the November rate.