U.S. health spending grew by 4% in 2008. This increase was the smallest in 50 years, influenced in part by the recession. There also is a tendency for several years of rapid spending growth to be followed by several years of slower growth as employers, patients, and government take steps to control costs.

Federal government health spending increased 10.4%; private business spending increased 1.2%.

See the Health Affairs article, Health Care Spending at a Historic Low in 2008, for details.