America Hits the Brakes on Healthcare Spending

WASHINGTON — The government says Americans have hit the brakes on healthcare spending.

Costs grew at historically low rates for the second year in a row in 2010, according to a report released Monday. Experts are debating whether it's just the weak economy, or the beginnings of real relief.

Healthcare spending grew by 3.9 percent in 2010, reaching $2.6 trillion, an average of $8,402 a person — far more than any other country.

Still, the increases for 2010 and 2009 were the lowest measured in 51 years by nonpartisan number crunchers with the U.S. Health and Human Services department. Healthcare as a share of the nation's economic pie stabilized at 17.9 percent.

As for President Barack Obama's overhaul, it barely added to costs, just one-tenth of 1 percentage point, according to the report.