ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

New data on health spending suggests the nation is in a fourth consecutive year of historically low growth, continuing a trend of roughly 4 percent growth since 2009. Health care spending grew by just 3.9 percent in April 2012 relative to April 2011, down slightly from the 4.0 percent growth rate observed in March 2012. Health care prices in April 2012 were 1.9 percent higher than in April 2011, but this increase has brought price growth barely above its February 2012 14-year low of 1.8 percent.

These data come from the June Health Sector Economic Indicators briefs released by Altarum Institutes Center for Sustainable Health Spending. The briefscovering health care spending, utilization, prices and employmentare at http://www.altarum.org/healthindicators.

In contrast to slow price and spending growth, health care employment rose by 33,000 jobs in May 2012, well above the 24-month average of 25,000. The health care share of total employment reached an all-time high of 10.8 percentroughly 1 in 9 U.S. jobs are now in the health sector.

Our analysis suggests there may be a true downward trend to health spending in this country, said Dr. Charles Roehrig, director of the Altarum Center for Sustainable Health Spending. But its not time to celebrate. We dont know the cause of this decline, and health job growth is at odds with the low spending. Somethings got to giveeither spending grows, job growth slows or wages in the health industry decline.

The health spending share of GDP, at 18.0 percent in March 2012, is down from the all-time high of 18.2 percent in June 2011. In addition, per capita health care utilization growth was 0.8 percent in April, year-over-year, continuing a downward trend observed since January 2011.

There will be a media conference call to discuss this months data on Thursday, June 7, 2012 from 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. (EDT). Interested media should join the call by dialing 877-820-7831, participant code 238-188#.

Altarum Institute (www.altarum.org) integrates objective research and client-centered consulting skills to deliver comprehensive, systems-based solutions that improve health and health care.

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2012 Likely to Be Fourth Consecutive Year of Historically Low Growth in Health Spending