WASHINGTON (January 9, 2012)—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Monday health care spending grew at historically low rates in 2010 for a second year in a row, but experts are debating whether it's just the weak economy, or the beginnings of real relief.

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

But 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.

Health care 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.