bls cpi release
2026-08
Scheduled: Sep 11, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT
scheduled
BLS August 2026 CPI scheduled for Sep. 11, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
PendingEstimated result
2027 Social Security COLA Calculator
The 2027 Social Security COLA is not official yet. Current published forecasts tracked by COLA Benefit range from 3.4% to 3.6% as of Aug. 12, 2026. July is the first of three CPI-W months used in the formula.
Estimate a 2027 increase from your current gross monthly benefit, then follow official CPI-W third-quarter data. Personalized amounts stay in your browser.
CPI-W third-quarter progress
1/3July 2026
Verified327.104
August 2026
PendingAwaiting release
September 2026
PendingAwaiting release
Previous relevant Q3 CPI-W average: 317.265
Only one Q3 month is published. This is progress only — not a COLA estimate.
Forecast comparison
Published forecast range: 3.4%–3.6% as of Aug. 12, 2026
COLA Benefit does not publish a house forecast. A midpoint, if shown, is an illustrative midpoint — not a proprietary forecast.
Mary Johnson
Projected- Rate
- 3.4%
- Published
- Aug 12, 2026
Independent analyst estimate published Aug. 12, 2026 (USA TODAY via Yahoo Finance). Previous July estimate was 3.7%. Not official.
View sourceAARP
Projected- Rate
- 3.5%
- Published
- Aug 12, 2026
AARP estimate dated Aug. 12, 2026. Not an official SSA COLA and not a COLA Benefit forecast.
View sourceThe Senior Citizens League
Projected- Rate
- 3.6%
- Published
- Aug 12, 2026
TSCL projection dated Aug. 12, 2026, revised from 3.8% on Jul. 14, 2026. Not official.
View source
Increase examples
Estimated resultDefault uses the current displayed scenario: an illustrative midpoint of the published 3.4%–3.6% forecast range while official COLA is pending. Results are estimates, not a COLA Benefit forecast.
Using 3.5%
- Current benefit
- $500.00
- New benefit
- $517.50
- Monthly increase
- +$17.50
- Annual increase
- +$210.00
- Current benefit
- $1,000.00
- New benefit
- $1,035.00
- Monthly increase
- +$35.00
- Annual increase
- +$420.00
- Current benefit
- $1,500.00
- New benefit
- $1,552.50
- Monthly increase
- +$52.50
- Annual increase
- +$630.00
- Current benefit
- $1,800.00
- New benefit
- $1,863.00
- Monthly increase
- +$63.00
- Annual increase
- +$756.00
- Current benefit
- $2,000.00
- New benefit
- $2,070.00
- Monthly increase
- +$70.00
- Annual increase
- +$840.00
- Current benefit
- $2,500.00
- New benefit
- $2,587.50
- Monthly increase
- +$87.50
- Annual increase
- +$1,050.00
- Current benefit
- $3,000.00
- New benefit
- $3,105.00
- Monthly increase
- +$105.00
- Annual increase
- +$1,260.00
SSA’s July 2026 average retired-worker benefit was $2,085.98. Use it only as an example.
Medicare Part B context
2026 standard Part B
$202.90
Official CMS / Trustees 2026 standard Part B premium.
2027 Part B planning figure
$209.50
2026 Medicare Trustees Report projection, not the final CMS Part B premium.
How Social Security COLA works
SSA compares the average CPI-W for July, August, and September with the same average from the last year a COLA was determined, then rounds the percentage change to one decimal. The 2026 COLA is 2.8% (official).
Recent COLA history
Important dates
BLS CPI times below are scheduled. SSA has said it will announce the next COLA in October 2026; the exact SSA date is not yet confirmed. We do not countdown to guessed announcement days.
bls cpi release
2026-09
Scheduled: Oct 14, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT
scheduled
BLS September 2026 CPI scheduled for Oct. 14, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET. This is the third Q3 CPI-W month used in the COLA formula.
ssa cola announcement
October 2026
October 2026. Exact SSA date is not yet confirmed.
scheduled
SSA says it will announce the next COLA in October 2026. Exact SSA date is not yet confirmed.
FAQs
Is the 2027 Social Security COLA official?
No. SSA says the next COLA will be announced in October 2026.
What are current 2027 COLA estimates?
As of Aug. 12, 2026, the named forecasts tracked by COLA Benefit range from 3.4% to 3.6%: Mary Johnson 3.4%, AARP 3.5%, TSCL 3.6%.
What data determines the COLA?
The official calculation uses the CPI-W, specifically the average for July, August and September compared with the previous applicable third-quarter average.
Is July's 3.4% CPI-W year-over-year increase the 2027 COLA?
No. July is only one of three Q3 readings.
When is the next update?
BLS is scheduled to release August CPI on Sep. 11, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
When will the official 2027 COLA be announced?
SSA says October 2026. BLS is scheduled to publish the final September CPI reading Oct. 14, but SSA has not confirmed an exact announcement date on its COLA summary page.
Does COLA Benefit store my Social Security amount?
No. Personalized calculator inputs stay in the browser.
Will my actual check increase by exactly the displayed percentage?
Not necessarily. SSA applies COLA to the PIA and uses additional rounding/adjustment steps; Medicare and other deductions can also affect the final payment.
Sources and methodology
AgencyU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Dataset / valueCPI-W (CWUR0000SA0)
Reference periodJuly 2026 CPI-W (published)
CPI-W series CWUR0000SA0 (not seasonally adjusted). July 2026 CPI-W is 327.104.
View official sourceAgencySocial Security Administration
Dataset / valueOfficial Social Security COLA
Primary source for official COLA, formula, history, and SSI federal amounts. Next COLA to be announced in October 2026; exact SSA date not yet confirmed.
View official sourceAgencyCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Dataset / valueMedicare Part B standard premium
Primary source for Medicare Part B standard premium when CMS publishes it.
View official sourceAgencyBoards of Trustees, Federal HI and SMI Trust Funds
Dataset / valueMedicare Part B Trustees projection
2026 Trustees Report: 2026 standard Part B is official; 2027 $209.50 is a projection, not the final CMS premium.
View official sourceNamed forecast sources appear in the forecast comparison with publication dates.
Update log
2026-08-12
July 2026 CPI-W published
BLS published July 2026 CPI-W at 327.104. This is the first of three Q3 readings used for the 2027 COLA calculation.
Related page2026-08-12
2027 published forecast range updated to 3.4%–3.6%
Current tracked estimates: Mary Johnson 3.4%, AARP 3.5%, TSCL 3.6%. These are named forecasts, not an official COLA and not a COLA Benefit house forecast.
Related page2026-06-09
2027 Medicare Part B Trustees projection updated
The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report estimates the 2027 standard Part B monthly premium at $209.50. This is a projection, not the final CMS premium.
Related page2025-10-24
2026 Social Security COLA announced at 2.8%
SSA announced the official 2026 COLA on Oct. 24, 2025. It was computed from Q3 2025 CPI-W (317.265) versus Q3 2024 CPI-W (308.729).
Related page
Personalized results are estimates. They are not SSA, BLS, or CMS determinations. COLA Benefit is not a government website.