Social Security recipients will receive a 3.6% increase in monthly benefits starting next year, 0.8% higher than this year's COLA. The adjustment is based on the CPI-W, which rose 3.9% year over year in September, and the Q3 average was 3.62% above the previous year's average, rounded to 3.6%. The increase largely reflects energy price spikes tied to the Middle East conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with gasoline up 34.2% and fuel oil up 74.2% year over year in September. Inflation cooled in July and August before accelerating again in September. The article notes the COLA likely won't fully offset current inflation, but it lets recipients plan their 2027 budgets.
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DXY
▲ Likely positiveRelevance: medium
| Market | Currencies |
|---|---|
| Close on 10/16/2026 | 101.78 |
| Change that session | -0.20% |
Impact is scored by AI from the headline and may be wrong. It is not investment advice.
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