Category Archives: Social Security

Bad news: Medicare costs for 2026 are surging at triple the rate of inflation

Part B costs, deductibles and IRMAA surcharges will all increase at least 9.7% next year. By David Enna, Tipswatch.com It was bad enough when we learned on Oct. 24 that Social Security benefits would increase 2.8% for beneficiaries in 2026, … Continue reading

Posted in Inflation, Medicare, Retirement, Social Security, Taxes | Tagged , , , , | 32 Comments

September inflation report sets I Bond variable rate at 3.12%; Social Security COLA will be 2.8%

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com Welcome to the most important (and most delayed) inflation report of the year: For September, seasonally adjusted U.S. inflation increased 0.3% and the annual rate ticked up from 2.9% to 3.0%, the beleaguered Bureau of Labor … Continue reading

Posted in Cash alternatives, Federal Reserve, I Bond, Inflation, Social Security, Treasury Bills | 31 Comments

I Bond fixed rate projection just fell to 0.90%

Oct. 24 update: September inflation report sets I Bond variable rate at 3.12% By David Enna, Tipswatch.com It was inevitable that the trend of lower 5-year real yields would eventually push my I Bond fixed rate protection to 0.90%, down … Continue reading

Posted in Cash alternatives, Federal Reserve, I Bond, Inflation, Savings Bond, Social Security, Treasury Bills | Tagged , , | 40 Comments

As government shuts down, Trump jettisons his choice to lead BLS

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com It’s Day One of the U.S. government shutdown, and the crucially important, non-partisan Bureau of Labor Statistics now has one working employee: acting commissioner William Wiatrowski. The other 2,054 employees have been (or will soon be) … Continue reading

Posted in Federal Reserve, I Bond, Inflation, Retirement, Social Security, Taxes | Tagged , , , | 54 Comments

U.S. government shutdown: What does it mean?

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com The U.S. government is highly likely to shut down on Wednesday, with the beginning of a new fiscal year. This is political theater, and the real danger is that the leading actors are both Republicans and … Continue reading

Posted in Federal Reserve, Medicare, Retirement, Social Security, Treasury Bills | 23 Comments