In 2017, retail prices for a combined set of 754 widely used prescription drugs (brand name, generic, and specialty) increased by an average of 4.2 percent; in contrast, the general inflation rate was 2.1 percent over the same period. The average annual increase in retail prices for the AARP combined set of drug products exceeded corresponding rate general inflation every year from 2006 through 2017. These findings are attributable primarily to price growth among brand name and specialty drugs, which more than offset often substantial decreases generic drugs.
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