Jun 2015 Health Sector Economic Indicators Briefs

National health spending in April 2015 was 6.2% higher than in April 2014. At $3.2 trillion, health spending now represents 18.2% of gross domestic product, a new all-time high. The health sector added 46,800 new jobs in May, and has added more than 400,000 jobs in the past 12 months, growth not seen since 1991. Health care prices in April 2015 were 1.2% higher than in April 2014, only two-tenths higher than the decade-plus low of 1.0% growth registered in August 2013. Hospital prices rose by a low 0.5%.