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Social Security COLAs losing retirees' buying power

Gaining traction — growing article coverage and momentum.

Score 0.4

Velocity ▲ 1.0

Articles 14

Sources 2

Top Movers

Ticker	Sector	Change
W	Retail	+9.9%
COLA	N/A	-2.3%

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Sep 27, 2026 The Social Security COLA Trap: Why Your Buying Power Might Still Shrink Bearish

Sep 24, 2026 We Won't Know Social Security's 2027 COLA Until Oct. 14 -- but … Neutral

Sep 20, 2026 If You're a Retiree, Here's How Your 2027 Budget Will Look Different … Neutral

Sep 16, 2026 What the Latest Social Security COLA Forecasts Mean for Your $2,000 Benefit … Neutral

Sep 13, 2026 Social Security's Trump Bump-Powered 2027 COLA Should Yield a Rare Silver Lining … Neutral

Sep 10, 2026 Social Security's 3.6% COLA Forecast for 2027 Brings Mixed Signals for Retirees Bearish

Sep 07, 2026 The 2027 Social Security Raise Is Tracking at About 3.6%. On the … Neutral

Sep 06, 2026 Think Your Next Social Security Raise Will Be Enough? History Says Otherwise. Bearish

Sep 04, 2026 Social Security's Upcoming COLA Has a Flaw That Costs Seniors Every Year Bearish

Aug 01, 2026 Medicare’s Routine Dental Coverage Has Been $0 Since 1965. A Single Implant … Neutral

Jul 24, 2026 Social Security Benefits Are Losing Buying Power. Here's Why Lawmakers Aren't Fixing … Bearish

Jul 23, 2026 Why COLAs Have Lost Retirees 14% of Their Buying Power Since 2016 Neutral

The Social Security COLA Trap: Why Your Buying Power Might Still Shrink Nasdaq · Sep 27, 2026 Mixed We Won't Know Social Security's 2027 COLA Until Oct. 14 -- but Here's 1 Thing … Nasdaq · Sep 24, 2026 Bearish Social Security's Upcoming COLA Has a Flaw That Costs Seniors Every Year Nasdaq · Sep 04, 2026 Mixed

Top Movers

Ticker	Sector	Change
W	Retail	+9.9%
COLA	N/A	-2.3%

🤖 AI Overview

What happened: Social Security benefits have been losing purchasing power due to flaws in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) calculation. The Senior Citizens League estimates a 3.6% COLA for 2027, adding $75 monthly to the average check, but this may not keep up with seniors' real-world costs. Lawmakers have not addressed this issue due to political hurdles.

Market impact: This narrative affects millions of retirees and their spending power, impacting sectors like retail, healthcare, and housing. A 14% loss in buying power since 2016 has significant implications for consumer confidence and economic growth. Medicare's lack of dental coverage further exacerbates seniors' financial strain.

What to watch next: On Oct. 14, the Social Security Administration will announce the 2027 COLA. Additionally, watch for any bipartisan efforts to reform the COLA calculation formula in Congress. Lastly, monitor inflation data, as it directly influences COLA adjustments.

AI Overview as of Sep 13, 2026

Timeline

First SeenAug 01, 2026

Last UpdatedSep 27, 2026

Social Security COLAs losing retirees' buying power

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