Sep 14, 2026, 6:27 PMRetirement and Social Security
Social Security COLA Could Be Biggest in Five Years, but Inflation Limits Real Gains
Social Security's next COLA could be the largest in five years, but MarketWatch says benefits will remain broadly unchanged after accounting for inflation.
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Summary
MarketWatch reported on September 14, 2026, that the next Social Security COLA could be the largest in five years. The available feed does not state the projected percentage, effective date, calculation inputs or affected payment amounts.
Despite the potentially large nominal adjustment, benefits are expected to remain largely stable after inflation. The increase therefore would largely preserve purchasing power rather than deliver a meaningful real gain, explaining why the article says it is no cause for celebration. The source provided no further detail.
Positives
- The next Social Security COLA could be the largest in five years, pointing to a sizable nominal benefit adjustment.
- Benefits are expected to remain largely stable after inflation, limiting erosion in recipients' purchasing power.
- The COLA would largely offset higher prices, according to the limited MarketWatch feed summary.
Risks & concerns
- The potentially biggest COLA in five years would not produce a meaningful real benefit increase because inflation absorbs the nominal gain.
- Real benefits are expected to remain largely unchanged, giving Social Security recipients little additional purchasing power.
- The feed omits the projected percentage, payment amounts, effective date and calculation details, limiting assessment of the household impact.
Primary sourceMarketWatch.com - Top Storieshttps://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-the-social-security-cola-is-much-ado-about-nothing-cf9b90d4?mod=mw_rss_topstories
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