Social Security’s 2027 COLA: A Big Boost, But With Uncertainty

Retirees could see Social Security’s largest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in four years in 2027—projected around 3.9% to 4.2% by experts—driven by higher CPI-W numbers. However, these are early forecasts that depend on third-quarter CPI data, and the actual COLA could be lower if inflation trends shift or other economic factors (tariffs, oil supply, Fed policy) change. The piece underscores that retirees should plan for retirement income beyond stock picking, as a bigger check could be offset by ongoing high prices and withholding factors in official calculations.