2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment projected to be small, indicating stability

Initial estimates for the 2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) are not looking favorable. Many retirees are hoping for a more generous COLA next year, but projections indicate otherwise. The COLA is calculated based on inflation data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. While a smaller COLA may disappoint some seniors, it could indicate stability in everyday expenses like grocery and gas prices. The final COLA for 2026 will be announced in October, based on inflation data from the third quarter of the year.

Read more at Nasdaq: Social Security: There’s a Silver Lining in the Otherwise Bleak Projection for 2026’s COLA