AARP: Prices for drugs used by elderly increased 7.4% last year

"Drugmakers increased their prices last year by an average of 7.4 percent for brand-name medicines most commonly prescribed to the elderly, according to the advocacy group AARP." (Source: "Drug prices climbing, AARP says," Associated Press, March 5, 2008.) "The increase was about 2.5 times overall inflation, continuing a long-standing trend. The advocacy group has tracked drug prices going back to 2002. Specifically, it looks at the prices charged to wholesalers. It noted that the price increases have been slightly greater since the Medicare drug benefit kicked in Jan. 1, 2006."