CPI-W: the COLA index
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 3.5% in the 12 months to August 2026, compared with 3.4% for the broader CPI-U. CPI-W is the index the Social Security Administration uses to set the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
CPI-W vs. CPI-U inflation, 2006–2026 (YoY %)
Source: BLS · NSA| Month | CPI-W index | MoM (NSA) | YoY | CPI-U YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 328.481 | +0.4% | +3.5% | +3.4% |
| July 2026 | 327.104 | 0.0% | +3.4% | +3.4% |
| June 2026 | 327.075 | −0.5% | +3.5% | +3.5% |
| May 2026 | 328.829 | +0.7% | +4.4% | +4.2% |
| April 2026 | 326.541 | +0.9% | +3.9% | +3.8% |
| March 2026 | 323.500 | +1.3% | +3.3% | +3.3% |
| February 2026 | 319.422 | +0.5% | +2.2% | +2.4% |
| January 2026 | 317.942 | +0.3% | +2.2% | +2.4% |
| December 2025 | 317.014 | −0.1% | +2.6% | +2.7% |
| November 2025 | 317.414 | n/a | +2.7% | +2.7% |
| October 2025 | Not published (2025 federal government shutdown) | |||
| September 2025 | 318.139 | +0.3% | +2.9% | +3.0% |
| August 2025 | 317.306 | +0.3% | +2.8% | +2.9% |
CPI-W, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted, 1982–84 = 100 (BLS series CWUR0000SA0).
CPI-W vs. CPI-U
CPI-U covers about 90% of the U.S. population: all urban consumers. CPI-W is a subset covering households where more than half of income comes from clerical or hourly wage jobs and at least one earner has worked 37 weeks or more in the year, roughly 30% of the population. Both indexes use the same prices; they differ only in the spending weights.
Wage-earner households spend a larger share on transportation and motor fuel and a smaller share on shelter and medical care than urban consumers as a whole, so CPI-W runs hotter when gasoline prices climb and cooler when they fall. Over long periods the two indexes grow at almost the same rate.
The Social Security Administration has used CPI-W to set COLAs since 1975. Because retirees spend more on housing and health care than wage earners, advocates have long proposed switching to the experimental CPI-E (elderly) index; Congress has not adopted it.
How CPI-W sets the Social Security COLA
Each October the SSA compares the average CPI-W for July, August and September with the same three months a year earlier (or with the last year that produced a COLA). The percentage increase becomes the COLA paid from January.
| Year | Q3 average CPI-W | Compared with Q3 of | Calculated change | Official COLA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 317.265 | 308.729 (2024) | +2.8% | 2.8% |
| 2024 | 308.729 | 301.236 (2023) | +2.5% | 2.5% |
| 2023 | 301.236 | 291.901 (2022) | +3.2% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 291.901 | 268.421 (2021) | +8.7% | 8.7% |
| 2021 | 268.421 | 253.412 (2020) | +5.9% | 5.9% |
| 2020 | 253.412 | 250.200 (2019) | +1.3% | 1.3% |
| 2019 | 250.200 | 246.352 (2018) | +1.6% | 1.6% |
| 2018 | 246.352 | 239.668 (2017) | +2.8% | 2.8% |
| 2017 | 239.668 | 235.057 (2016) | +2.0% | 2.0% |
| 2016 | 235.057 | 234.242 (2014) | +0.3% | 0.3% |
| 2015 | 233.278 | 234.242 (2014) | −0.4% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 234.242 | 230.327 (2013) | +1.7% | 1.7% |
| 2013 | 230.327 | 226.936 (2012) | +1.5% | 1.5% |
| 2012 | 226.936 | 223.233 (2011) | +1.7% | 1.7% |
| 2011 | 223.233 | 215.495 (2008) | +3.6% | 3.6% |
| 2010 | 214.136 | 215.495 (2008) | −0.6% | 0.0% |
| 2009 | 211.001 | 215.495 (2008) | −2.1% | 0.0% |
| 2008 | 215.495 | 203.596 (2007) | +5.8% | 5.8% |
| 2007 | 203.596 | 199.067 (2006) | +2.3% | 2.3% |
| 2006 | 199.067 | 192.700 (2005) | +3.3% | 3.3% |
| 2005 | 192.700 | 185.100 (2004) | +4.1% | 4.1% |
| 2004 | 185.100 | 180.300 (2003) | +2.7% | 2.7% |
| 2003 | 180.300 | 176.567 (2002) | +2.1% | 2.1% |
| 2002 | 176.567 | 174.133 (2001) | +1.4% | 1.4% |
| 2001 | 174.133 | 169.700 (2000) | +2.6% | 2.6% |
| 2000 | 169.700 | 163.933 (1999) | +3.5% | 3.5% |
| 1999 | 163.933 | 160.000 (1998) | +2.5% | 2.5% |
| 1998 | 160.000 | 157.867 (1997) | +1.4% | 1.3% |
| 1997 | 157.867 | 154.633 (1996) | +2.1% | 2.1% |
| 1996 | 154.633 | 150.233 (1995) | +2.9% | 2.9% |
| 1995 | 150.233 | 146.400 (1994) | +2.6% | 2.6% |
| 1994 | 146.400 | 142.367 (1993) | +2.8% | 2.8% |
| 1993 | 142.367 | 138.767 (1992) | +2.6% | 2.6% |
| 1992 | 138.767 | 134.700 (1991) | +3.0% | 3.0% |
| 1991 | 134.700 | 129.900 (1990) | +3.7% | 3.7% |
| 1990 | 129.900 | 123.333 (1989) | +5.3% | 5.4% |
| 1989 | 123.333 | 117.800 (1988) | +4.7% | 4.7% |
| 1988 | 117.800 | 113.267 (1987) | +4.0% | 4.0% |
| 1987 | 113.267 | 108.700 (1986) | +4.2% | 4.2% |
| 1986 | 108.700 | 107.333 (1985) | +1.3% | 1.3% |
| 1985 | 107.333 | 104.067 (1984) | +3.1% | 3.1% |
| 1984 | 104.067 | 100.533 (1983) | +3.5% | 3.5% |
The COLA is the rise in the July–September CPI-W average over the same quarter of the last year that produced a COLA, rounded to 0.1%. A fall means no COLA (2009, 2010, 2015). 1990 and 1998 differ by 0.1 point because SSA used the index as then published to one decimal. Source: BLS, SSA.
Common questions
What is CPI-W?
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, a BLS price index weighted to the spending of households that earn most of their income from hourly or clerical jobs. It covers about 30% of the U.S. population.
What is the current CPI-W?
328.481 in August 2026 (1982–84 = 100), up 3.5% from a year earlier.
Why does Social Security use CPI-W instead of CPI-U?
The law that created automatic COLAs in 1972 (effective 1975) tied them to CPI-W, the index then used for wage contracts. Changing it requires an act of Congress.
Is CPI-W higher than CPI-U?
It varies. CPI-W gives more weight to gasoline and transportation, so it rises faster when fuel prices jump and slower when they fall. Over decades the two track closely.