Hi, I'm Cent! Every week I round up what is new and what is coming from official U.S. sources, in plain words. This week: Social Security's 2027 raise is official, and Nov. 1 brings a new I bond rate, health-plan sign-ups and the clock change.
Social Security benefits will rise 3.6% in 2027
Announced Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027, up from 2.8% for 2026. Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries see it starting with January 2027 payments, and about 7.3 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) see it on Dec. 31, 2026. SSA says the average retirement benefit goes up by about $75 a month, from an estimated $2,095 to $2,170.
Other 2027 figures from SSA's fact sheet: the maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax rise from $184,500 to $192,300; the earnings test limit for people under full retirement age rises from $24,480 to $25,560 a year; and the SSI federal payment for one person rises from $994 to $1,029 a month. Personal notices appear in my Social Security accounts starting in late November (people without an account need to create one and enroll in paperless notices by Nov. 18 to see theirs online); paper notices arrive by mail in December.
Source: SSA press release (Oct. 14, 2026) and SSA, 2027 COLA fact sheet (checked Oct. 27, 2026).
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Prices rose 3.7% over the year to September
Released Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.6% in September after seasonal adjustment and 3.7% over the past 12 months. Prices excluding food and energy were up 2.6% over the year. The CPI-W, the index used for the Social Security COLA, was up 3.9% over the year. The October figures come out Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Source: BLS, Consumer Price Index news release, September 2026 (checked Oct. 27, 2026).
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The Federal Reserve meets Tuesday and Wednesday
Oct. 27–28, 2026
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) sets the target range for the federal funds rate, which can influence what credit cards and savings accounts charge and pay. The decision is announced when the meeting ends on Wednesday, Oct. 28. This meeting has no new economic projections; the last 2026 meeting is Dec. 8–9. We make no prediction about the decision.
Source: Federal Reserve, FOMC meeting calendars (checked Oct. 27, 2026).
Try it on CentDaily: High-yield savings & CD comparison · Credit card interest calculator
New I bond rate on Nov. 1
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026
TreasuryDirect announces the I bond fixed rate and inflation rate every May 1 and Nov. 1. I bonds issued from May 1 through Oct. 31, 2026 earn a combined 4.26%, including a fixed rate of 0.90% that stays with the bond for life. The rate for bonds bought from Nov. 1 was not out as of Oct. 27. Bonds you already own switch to the new inflation rate every six months from their own issue month, not on Nov. 1.
Source: TreasuryDirect, I bonds interest rates (checked Oct. 27, 2026).
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Still waiting: 2027 tax brackets, 401(k) limits and the Medicare Part B premium
Not published as of Oct. 27, 2026
The IRS had not yet published its 2027 inflation adjustments (tax brackets, standard deduction) or the 2027 401(k) and IRA contribution limits; its October news releases through Oct. 23 do not include them. We skip unofficial estimates and will report the official numbers when they appear. Returns filed in early 2027 for tax year 2026 use the 2026 figures.
The 2027 Medicare Part B standard premium was also not out (2026: $202.90 a month). SSA says Medicare enrollees will see their 2027 premium in the my Social Security Message Center starting in late November.
Source: IRS, news releases for October 2026, CMS newsroom and SSA press release (checked Oct. 27, 2026).
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Two health-plan sign-up seasons overlap from Nov. 1
HealthCare.gov: Nov. 1, 2026 – Jan. 15, 2027 · Medicare: until Dec. 7, 2026
HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage starts Sunday, Nov. 1. Enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage that starts Jan. 1; the final deadline is Jan. 15. After that, you generally need a Special Enrollment Period. See the Oct. 12 issue for the 2026–2027 premium tax credit changes.
Medicare Open Enrollment, which began Oct. 15, runs through Dec. 7. Your plan must receive your request by Dec. 7, and changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Source: HealthCare.gov, dates and deadlines and Medicare.gov, Open Enrollment (checked Oct. 27, 2026).
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Clocks fall back Sunday, Nov. 1
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, 2 a.m.
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. local time, when clocks go back to 1 a.m. Hawaii, most of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation), Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not change. For family in places that never change clocks, such as Vietnam, the Philippines and China, the time difference grows by one hour.
Source: NIST, Daylight Saving Time rules (checked Oct. 27, 2026).
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October jobs report on Friday, Nov. 6
Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, 8:30 a.m. ET
BLS publishes the Employment Situation report for October on Nov. 6, with the unemployment rate, jobs added and average hourly earnings. The November report follows on Dec. 4. CentDaily's economic calendar lists these and other official release dates and can add them to your phone's calendar.
Source: BLS, Employment Situation release schedule (checked Oct. 27, 2026).
Try it on CentDaily: U.S. economic calendar