SS Adjustments are lagging. The CPI last year didn’t increase.
It’s funny, I remember the arguments about how CPI was overstating inflation for seniors, and bankrupting Social Security, and the answer was to develop a new CPI just for seniors that could be used for the Social Security calculations.
Obviously you could never do that, if even conservatives scream bloody murder if SS doesn’t go up every year by large sums.
I don’t disagree about indexes being jiggered to justify whatever result is desired. I just know grocery prices are going up, as are health costs, tuition, insurance, many basic consumer goods and services. But definitely groceries. Bigger prices, smaller containers, hamburger at steak prices, etc. I want my steak at steak prices, please.