The term “COLA increase” refers to the annual adjustment made to certain government benefits and payments to account for inflation. It is typically based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures the average change in prices for a basket of goods and services purchased by urban wage earners and clerical workers.
The COLA increase for 2025 is particularly important because it will affect the benefits of millions of Americans, including Social Security recipients, federal retirees, and veterans. The increase will help ensure that these individuals can keep pace with rising costs of living.