AgencyU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Dataset / valueCPI-W (CWUR0000SA0)
Reference periodJuly 2026 CPI-W published; August and September pending
CPI-W series CWUR0000SA0 (not seasonally adjusted). July 2026 CPI-W is 327.104.
View official sourcePending
2027 COLA CPI-W tracker
SSA uses unadjusted CPI-W series CWUR0000SA0. Third-quarter months are July, August, and September. A percentage is calculated only after all three published values exist, and it remains unconfirmed until SSA announces the COLA.
July’s 3.4% year-over-year CPI-W change is not the 2027 COLA. July is only the first of three Q3 readings.
Latest verified CPI-W
327.104
July 2026 CPI-W 327.104 — verified BLS source data, not a 2027 COLA.
Prior Q3 benchmark
317.265
Q3 2025 average used in the last official COLA.
Q3 CPI-W progress
1 of 3
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.
Formula reminder
Calculated COLA = round(((current Q3 average ÷ previous Q3 average) − 1) × 100, 1 decimal). If the index does not rise, the COLA is 0.0%.
How COLA is calculated · 2027 hub · Social Security COLA calculator
AgencySocial 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 sourceIs July's 3.4% CPI-W year-over-year increase the 2027 COLA?
No. July is only one of three Q3 readings.
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.
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
Browser pages never fetch BLS directly. New CPI-W values enter pending review and are not auto-published.