July CPI-W Release on Aug. 12 Sharpens 2027 Social Security COLA, Now Estimated at 3.8%
Updated
Updated · IndexBox, Inc. · Jul 13
July CPI-W Release on Aug. 12 Sharpens 2027 Social Security COLA, Now Estimated at 3.8%
3 articles · Updated · IndexBox, Inc. · Jul 13
Summary
Aug. 12 is the next key date for Social Security recipients, when July CPI-W data will provide the first third-quarter inflation reading used to calculate the 2027 COLA.
That release should move forecasts beyond broad speculation because COLAs are based on the change in average third-quarter CPI-W from one year to the next.
The Senior Citizens League currently estimates the 2027 COLA at 3.8%, above the 50-year average but below the unusually large increases seen during the pandemic inflation surge.
The official 2027 COLA still will not be announced until Oct. 14, and any bigger benefit increase would also reflect higher living costs that can erode retirees' purchasing power.