March Inflation Rate Exceeds Social Security's 2026 COLA, Impacts 2027 Adjustments
March 2026 inflation rose to 3.3%, surpassing the 2.8% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026. This increase, driven largely by rising energy costs, may influence the 2027 COLA. The Social Security Administration uses the CPI-W index, calculated from the third quarter of each year, to determine annual adjustments.
