June 2001

According to a Reuters article, the prices of the 50 top-selling drugs used by America's seniors rose 6.1% over the one year period ending in January of 2001. That increase compares with an inflation rate, excluding the cost of energy, of 2.7%. Says Reuters: "Thirty-eight of the top-selling drugs on the list rose at least 1.5 times the rate of inflation. More than one-third rose three or more times the rate of inflation. The biggest price jumpers included Knoll's synthetic thyroid agent Synthroid, up 22.6%, or more than eight times the rate of inflation over the 1-year period..."

See the full article:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010612/hl/drug_2.html