Expense, utilization data show containment working.

Hospital expenses increased 12.7 percent in September 1979 compared to September 1978, bringing the 1979 year-to-date increase to 13.1 percent. The comparable increases last year were 12.5 percent in the month of September and 12.8 percent for the year-to-date. While the accelerated rates of growth continue to reflect inflationary pressures in the general economy and increased utilization, September 1979 showed the smallest rate of increase in total hospital expenses since March 1979, attesting to efforts by hospital management to contain labor and supply costs.