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Despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has confirmed that it will proceed with the release of the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) report on October 24, 2025. This publication is critical, especially for those who rely on federal benefits, as the CPI data will be used to calculate the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients in 2026.
The CPI report measures inflation by tracking changes in the prices of goods and services typically purchased by households, including food, housing and energy. The report provides insight into the current state of the economy and is a key economic indicator used to adjust benefits for millions of Americans. As inflation continues to impact household budgets, the COLA adjustment plays a critical role in helping beneficiaries keep up with rising costs.
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This year’s report is particularly important because it determines COLA for more than 72.5 million recipients, including retirees, people with disabilities, and low-income people who rely on SSI. Although precise details will be confirmed once the report is published, early forecasts suggest that beneficiaries will see their monthly payments increase by 2.7%. This adjustment is expected to add an average of $54 more per month to recipients’ benefits, mitigating the impact of inflation.
Despite the federal shutdown, which has led to the suspension of several government services, the BLS has committed to releasing the CPI data on time. This decision ensures that timely adjustments to Social Security and SSI benefits will not be delayed. For many recipients, these adjustments are essential to maintaining their purchasing power in the face of rising costs of living, especially in areas such as housing, healthcare and transportation.
The federal shutdown has created significant challenges in many areas of government, with hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed and key services suspended. However, essential programs like Social Security and SSI are designed to remain largely unaffected by temporary closures, and the release of the CPI report underscores the importance of maintaining support for vulnerable populations during uncertain times.
As the government shutdown continues, the September CPI report will provide important insights into the state of inflation and its impact on US households. The projected 2.7% increase in COLA is expected to be a welcome development for millions of Social Security and SSI recipients, providing a slight cushion against the financial strain many face. However, this adjustment also highlights ongoing concerns about the overall cost of living in the U.S. and the challenges that low-income, fixed-income earners face in navigating a fluctuating economy.
So the October 24 release of the CPI report will be closely watched, not only for the inflation data it provides, but also for the critical role it plays in determining the financial security of millions of Americans who rely on government assistance.
