October 14, 2010
Politico told readers that: “On Friday, Social Security recipients will learn that they won’t receive higher benefits for the second year in a row because the economy isn’t growing fast enough.” Actually, this is not true. The cost of living adjustment for Social Security has nothing to do with the economy’s growth rate. It is based on the rate of inflation as measured by the consumer price index. The reason that beneficiaries will not receive higher benefits is because the CPI shows no inflation over the last year.
The difference between inflation and growth is very important and fundamental. Reporters should be able to get it right.
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