- The US is publicly pressuring Iran regarding its nuclear program, seeking a deal that requires Iran to turn over enriched uranium.
- Policies related to the Iran war, announced on May 29th, have led to consequences including spiking petrol prices and increased shipping costs, impacting the US market.
- Market volatility driven by geopolitical tensions, including attacks on Iran, has caused oil and gold prices to react, prompting the FED to consider its stance on inflation and interest rates.
- Inflationary pressures, driven by the Iran war, are influencing COLA calculations and prompting the Federal Reserve to consider rate hikes.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Releases CPI Data, Informing COLA Forecasts
What happened
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released consumer price index (CPI) inflation data on September 21, 2026. This data informs the annual Social Security COLA, which is calculated using CPI-W data for the months of July, August, and September. The COLA for 2026 was 2.8%, while the released August CPI data showed consumer prices were up 3.4% from a year ago, and CPI-W was up 3.5% over the last year. Various groups estimated the 2027 COLA could range from 3.4% to 3.6%, with AARP projecting 3.6% based on its analysis.
From nypost.com
Why it matters
The COLA mechanism adjusts Social Security payments to account for the rise in the cost of living. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the official CPI-W data that the Social Security Administration relies upon for these benefit adjustments. These figures are critical inputs for financial planning by organizations like AARP.
Inflationary pressures, driven by the Iran war, are influencing COLA calculations and prompting the Federal Reserve to consider rate hikes.
From nypost.com
Who's involved
- Bureau of Labor StatisticsUS government agency that publishes the official consumer price index (CPI-W) data.
- AARPNonprofit organization that uses BLS data to analyze inflation and forecast COLA impacts.
- Social Security AdministrationIndependent agency that formally relies on Bureau of Labor Statistics data to calculate the COLA.
How this reaches others
Each traced step by step, with the reporting behind itKeep exploring
The entities involved
-
Bureau of Labor Statistics
US government agency
-
Federal Reserve Bank
regional bank of the U.S. Federal Reserve System
-
AARP
American nonprofit organization
Related events
- Fed Governor Christopher Waller weighs the Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI data as it influences monetary policy decisions.
- Fed action is contingent on future inflation numbers and labor market data, influencing rate hike expectations and financial market commentary.
- Both the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Economic Research Service track food price trends and inflation.
- Todd Vasos cited Bureau of Labor Statistics data regarding consumer price inflation on September 21, 2026.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics published data concerning covertly printed inflation, a topic discussed by Robert Kiyosaki.