January 2016 Health Sector Economic Indicators Briefs

National health spending in November 2015 was up 5.0% compared to November 2014, continuing the slowdown from a peak of nearly 7% growth in February 2015. Health care prices were 1.1% higher than in November 2014, slightly below the 1.2% rate measured in October. And the health sector added 39,400 jobs in December, for a total annual gain of 475,000 new jobs, 50% more than in 2014. More than one-third of new health jobs in 2015 were in hospitals, although the hospital hiring boom may be moderating as hospitals have added fewer jobs each month in the second half of the year.