"The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 settled at a puny 2.8%, marking one of the smallest adjustments in recent years, but higher than last year's 2.5%. This follows an 8.7% COLA in 2023 when inflation spiked after COVID disruptions, representing a significant decline from that peak. The adjustment is determined by comparing inflation data from the third quarter of one year to the same period the previous year, and with inflation cooling considerably from its post-pandemic highs, the corresponding benefit increase has naturally moderated."
"While the COLA has averaged about 3.1% over the past decade, the 2026 figure sits below this average, and it sure will not be enough for Boomers and retirees to pay the bills, especially with Medicare Part B coverage increasing by 11.6% in 2026. Unlike open-end mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade on major exchanges like stocks. They own financial assets, such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and debt, as well as commodities, such as gold bars."
The 2026 Social Security COLA is 2.8%, down from the 8.7% spike in 2023 and below the decade average of about 3.1%. The COLA is calculated by comparing inflation in the third quarter year-over-year, and cooler post-pandemic inflation produced a smaller benefit increase. Medicare Part B coverage is increasing by 11.6% in 2026, further pressuring retiree budgets. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade on major exchanges like stocks, can be bought or sold during market hours, and hold assets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, debt, and commodities. The SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (NYSE: BIL) invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its assets in securities comprising the index or securities with substantially identical economic characteristics, and the index measures U.S. Treasury obligations with remaining maturities of one month or more but less than three months.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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