"The lone economic report of Shutdown 2025 was released to great fanfare, but don't get used to it. When the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced the September Consumer Price Index (CPI), which was originally scheduled to be released on Oct 15, would be released on October 24, it also said that no other releases will be rescheduled or produced until the resumption of regular government services."
"The September report showed that the annual inflation rate ticked up to 3 percent, primarily due to a 4.1% monthly increase in the gas index. The results were slightly better than expected, but it was still the highest annual inflation rate since the beginning of the year. Tariff-impacted categories like apparel, furniture, bedding, household furnishings, and flooring are seeing prices start to accelerate."
"With the September report hot off the presses, the SSA announced that payments for 75 million Americans who receive benefits will increase by 2.8% in 2026. To put that in perspective, the 2025 COLA was 2.5%; in the high inflation years of 2021 and 2022, the COLA was 5.9% and 8.7%, respectively; and in low inflation years like 2015 and 2016, seniors barely saw any increase (0.0% and 0.3%, respectively)."
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the September Consumer Price Index during Shutdown 2025 and suspended other data releases until government services resume. Annual inflation rose to 3.0%, led by a 4.1% monthly jump in the gasoline index. Tariff-impacted goods such as apparel, furniture, bedding, household furnishings, and flooring showed accelerating prices. Care services facing immigration-related labor shortages drove faster increases: day care and childcare costs rose 1.7% monthly and elder care at home jumped 7%, record highs in available data. The Social Security Administration used third-quarter inflation to set a 2.8% COLA for 75 million beneficiaries in 2026.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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