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New estimates suggest that the Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2027 may fall between 3,7% and 3,8%.
Mary Johnson, independent Social Security analyst, believes that the Social Security COLA could be as low as 3.7% by 2027. This figure is 1 percentage point lower than the COLA of 4.7% that Johnson predicted last month.
Johnson, in a press release said: “This is an important drop in inflation and something we haven’t seen for the CPI June data in five years.”
The latest government statistics released on Tuesday show that the Consumer Price Index increased by 3.5% in the last 12 months, as of the end of June. This was less than expected due to the decline in energy costs.
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The Senior Citizens League (a nonpartisan group of seniors) estimates that the Social Security COLA could be as high as 3.8% in 2027, which is the same estimate it made last month.
These estimates can change. Social Security Administration usually announces the official COLA of the next year in October.
Cost-of-living adjustment is made to Social Security Benefits annually in order for them to keep up with inflation.
According to the Social Security Administration, the annual COLA averaged 3,1% in the last 10 years. More than 75 millions Social Security and Supplemental Security income beneficiaries will see a 2.8% rise in their benefits by 2026.
What Medicare premiums could change by 2027
According to the Employee Benefit Research institute, an independent, nonprofit research organization, and Greenwald Research Consulting, a consulting company, retirement confidence has decreased among retirees.
The survey of 1,045 retirees found that confidence among retired people fell by 5 points, to 73%. According to survey results, top concerns included debt, inflation, healthcare costs and housing expenses. The survey revealed that two in five retirees reported their healthcare costs were higher than they expected.
According to the estimates of the Medicare trustees’ annual report, released in June, a monthly healthcare cost — Medicare Part B standard premiums, which cover medically-necessary and preventive care — could be as high as $209.50 in 2027. This is a decrease from the $202.90 monthly premium in 2026, a drop of $6.60 (3.3%). Beneficiaries with higher incomes may be subject to additional charges.
Johnson stated that this was a low number. The average annual increase for Part B has been about 5,4% over the last 10 years.
According to the report of trustees, Medicare Part D’s initial deductible, which includes prescription drugs, is set at $700 by 2027. This compares with $615 for 2026. The catastrophic threshold or limit on out-of pocket spending will increase to $2,400 in 2020, from the previous $2,100. According to the report, these new thresholds are final.

Brent oil has risen above $85 due to renewed U.S. Iran hostilities, ending the narrative of an oversupply and reviving concerns about a global shortage.
The much anticipated 2026 LNG oversupply wave may not materialize
BloombergNEF has pushed back its first glut-year to 2028 due to the US-Iran Conflict and the recurring delays in project commissioning.
The Super El Nino of this year has brought the heat to Asia, pushing LNG imports to their highest levels in July. Imports are expected to hit 23 million tonnes.
Asia and Europe now compete for each available cargo. This creates a zero sum game for European purchasers as Asia’s JKM benchmark price rose to $19.5 MMBtu per day on Tuesday. It was the highest level since early June.
Due to the unfavorable economy, Europe is currently getting short-changed on LNG. This month, the Old Continent will see its imports drop to 6,90 million tonnes – a two-year low – as European LNG price trends consistently lower than JKM.
Pakistan, one of the world’s most gas-deprived nations, has announced a new tender for the purchase of prompt LNG to be delivered in July. Qatar LNG exports have been cut off by the attack last week on the Al Rekayyat LNG ship.
Market Movers
US midstream titan Williams (NYSE WMB) announced that Blackstone will provide $5.34 Billion for a non-controlling 49% stake in its five power projects in Ohio. This investment provides Williams with additional capital to continue its AI-driven growth.
Genesis Minerals, a gold mining company in Australia (ASX:GMD), has announced that it will acquire Vault Minerals. The deal is worth $8.7billion and would make the Australian firm into its third largest gold producer.
Shell, a London-based energy company (LONSHEL), has sold its Indian renewables firm Sprng Energy for $1.8billion to local trading group Aditya Birla. It paid $1.55billion for the business in 2022.
US utility company Chesapeake Utilities announced that they would build, operate and develop a pipeline for natural gas in Florida, at an estimated cost of $1.2billion. They are attempting to solve regional shortages.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
In July 2026, the Battle of Hormuz has begun. US missile attacks on Iranian infrastructure have triggered Tehran’s response against Middle Eastern nations hosting US bases. The White House’s upcoming official reinstatement of Iran’s maritime blockade and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz have both pushed ICE Brent to above $85 a barrel. All global benchmarks are now steeply in reverse, as the oversupply story of recent weeks has been replaced by a narrative of global shortages.
OPEC lowers its demand growth outlook. OPEC has lowered its demand growth forecast in 2026 from the 970,000 b/d it predicted a few months ago to just 780,000 b/d. This is the third consecutive downward revision. The growth outlook for 2027 was boosted by a staggering 1.94 million b/d.
Trump reinstates Iran’s Maritime Blockade. Donald Trump has announced that the US will be re-imposing the maritime blockade on Iranian ships through the Gulf of Oman. He called the USA the “Guardian of Hormuz Strait” and promised to reimburse the USA at 20% of the total amount of cargoes transported via this waterway.
A Separate Saudi Houthi War is Coming. Houthi rebels in Yemen accused Saudi Arabia of airstrikes on the airport at Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, and claimed the period of “de-escalation” with Riyadh was over. They also said the attack would not be ignored. Related: U.S. The U.S. gasoline prices are rising for the first time since May, as Iran’s ceasefire collapses.
Iran hits two UAE tankers in transit. Iran hits two transiting UAE tankers.
Chinese crude imports fall through the cracks. China’s oil imports in June fell 41% from the previous year to 7.12m b/d. This is the lowest reading for a month since October 2016. Buyers cut their purchases amid a ban on exports of refined products and a lower domestic fuel demand.
Iran plays down the impact of Trump’s Blockade. The US blockade against Iran will take effect on the evening of the 14th of July. According to the Iranian Oil Ministry, the sanctions are not affecting the country’s normal exports. Loadings have averaged 1.35m b/d in the month of July.
Nigerian output soars to a 6-Year high. Nigerian upstream regulator NUPRC said that crude oil production in the African nation soared at its highest level since April 2020. In June, it averaged 1.56 million barrels per day (b/d) as improved pipeline safety and stable operations allowed producers to increase output.
Europe Gobbles Up Russian LNG before the Ban. In the first six months of 2026 the EU imported 9.97 millions tonnes of LNG, a record. This was an increase of 16% over the previous year, due to the looming deadlines for phase out.
Kazakhstan demands Billions due to Too Much Sulfur. Kazakhstan’s Justice Ministry has demanded that the Kashagan Oilfield operating company pay a $4.9 billion environmental fine by the 20th of July. This is the result of an investigation in 2023 which found excessive amounts of sulphur at the oilfield.
Riyadh boosts the energy ministry’s power. Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman’s responsibilities have been expanded by Riyadh, which has added to his portfolio the industries and minerals resources. Riyadh is seeking to better coordinate feedstock supply with industrial development.
Iraq considers tripling oil flows to Turkey. The Turkish Energy Ministry reported that Iraq had suggested a 12-month temporary arrangement for sending crude oil through the Kirkuk Ceyhan pipeline. It currently transports around 200,000 barrels per day of Kurdish crude.
Shell Gets Nigeria Oil Tax Relief. Shell gets Nigeria oil tax relief.
South Korea Returns to nuclear for AI Boom. Seoul is planning to build new reactors as well as extend the life of its current fleet, as demand for power from data centers, semiconductor hubs, and electrification may rise by 50GW in 2040.
Mexico’s Pacific LNG Era begins. Sempra Infrastructure’s 3,25mn t/yr Energia Costa Azul Terminal is sending its first cargo to South Korea. This opens a new US fed natural gas export route that bypasses Panama Canal, and reduces delivery time to major Pacific markets.
New York Pulls Plug on Data Center boom. New York is the first US State to put a moratorium of one year on data centers that consume at least 50MW. The state cited rising energy costs, water shortages and grid stress as reasons for this. More than 12GW in large loads are awaiting connection.
Tom Kool, Oilprice.com
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The Black Sea attacks between Russia and Ukraine escalate as oil prices rise
The cost of nuclear power is being lowered by two geothermal bets
Iran says it will continue exporting oil despite the cancellation of U.S. waiver

Californian city moves to ban new drive-thru eateries. The move is sparked by locals organizing to protest a possible new In-N’-Out restaurant.
Culver City, a stand-alone city within Los Angeles County, voted on Monday to extend a recently enacted 45-day moratorium on any new drive-thrus for another 10.5 months. Culver City, a stand-alone municipality within Los Angeles County, voted Monday to extend the recently passed 45-day ban on new drive-thrus by another 10.5. This will give city officials enough time to create permanent legislation to keep drive-thrus away from their city.
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The legislation that is in the works will need to go through an official hearing before it can be finalized and approved. It must also become law by the expiration of the moratorium. But for the moment, the plan of no drive-thru restaurants at Culver City seems only a question of time.
Culver City drive-thru law changes were pushed by a group that came together in opposition to a new In-N Out location proposed at Studio Village Shopping Center, at the corner Sepulveda Boulevard & Sawtelle Boulevard. Since early February, the burger chain held community meetings to discuss its proposed location. They showed renderings of a red-and white, almost 4,000 square-foot restaurant, with 61 parking spaces and a 24-car drive-thru. The locals turned out in large numbers to the February meeting, expressing their disapproval of having a drive-thru so busy in this part of town.
The company has not obtained any official approvals or permits to start construction.
Bubba Fish is Culver City’s Vice Mayor and a major supporter of the In-N Out ban. He told SFGATE he wasn’t against the company itself. He’s more against drive-thrus that are located in residential and densely populated areas.
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Fish stated, “I have heard so many people express their deep concern about the In-N’-Out, the impact on traffic and the air quality caused by the idle cars.” The more I researched it, the more I realized that other health effects were present. “The neighborhoods around fast-food drive-thrus have higher rates of diabetes and heart disease, as well as other illnesses.”
Change.org has a petition with over 940 signatories opposing the possible In-N-Out location in Culver city. The petition cites similar environmental and traffic concerns as Fish. SFGATE contacted In-N-Out about the potential issues and Culver City’s desire to ban drive-thrus for an extended period of time. However, they did not reply before publication.
Fish said that the community has a number of safety initiatives in place. He believes adding more vehicles to Culver City streets would be against public interest.
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Fish says that a drive through is not appropriate in Culver City. Fish said, “This is not anything against these establishments because I enjoy a good burger as much as anyone else.”
In-N Out does operate some restaurants without drive-thru lanes, such as a new giant rooftop location on Las Vegas’ Strip or another in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. The company was founded in Baldwin Park in 1948 and has always been reluctant to build new locations without them. Some customers see drive-thru restaurants as a convenient and accessible option; others view them negatively, saying they impede traffic and reduce walkability in a neighbourhood.
Culver City residents, with a population of nearly 40,000 people, have an In-N Out nearby. It is located further east, along the busy Venice Boulevard, in Los Angeles, where it has a popular drive-thru. Since 1997, the city hasn’t allowed a drive-thru to open.
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Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Monica in LA County are just a few of the California cities that have used local control measures before to ban drive-thru restaurant.
Fish believes that “public health” is “the top priority of the list for leaders in the city”. He said that cities are currently at a turning point, and we realize traffic gets worse each year. The only solution is to make our streets safer and more comfortable for the people who use them. Drive-thrus, on the other hand, are the opposite of this.
Fish said that drive-throughs are ideal for multinational fast food chains. They’re not great for people who have to live near one.
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Bay Area Restaurant goes viral with its unruly child policy
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SpaceX’s Starship rocket, which is the largest and strongest rocket in the world, will launch its crucial test flight at Starbase Texas no later than Thursday, 16th July, 6:45 pm EDT (2225 GMT). The live webcast begins about 30 minutes before liftoff.
See our most recent updates about the Starship V3 rocket (short form for Version 3), including test flight objectives, system upgrades, and much more. Flight 13 marks the 13th Starship test flight since 2023.
Starship V3 upgrades explained
Amazon: $39.99
Starship Die Cast Rocket Model Was $47.99Now $39.99 on Amazon.
You can still own a SpaceX Starship model, even if you cannot see it in person. This desktop model is in a 1:1375 scale and measures 13.77 inches or 35 cm. Alloy steel is used and the model weighs only 225g.
The Super Heavy booster has been moved to the hangar
After a static engine test on Friday (10 July), SpaceX has lowered Booster 20 of Flight 13 Super Heavy from its launch stand, and returned the stage to the hangar in the Starbase facility, Texas.
In the coming days, Ship 40 will be rolled back onto the launch pad, together with the Flight 13 Starship upper-stage. Both rockets will be placed on Starbase pad 2 where they will likely undergo one more engine test before launch.
SpaceX has not changed its target date for the 13th Starship test flight. The liftoff is scheduled to take place on July 16, during a 90 minute window which opens at 6 p.m. (2245 GMT) EDT.
Learn how SpaceX will launch the first Starlink Version 3 satellites.
Watch SpaceX Starship Flight 13 launch on July 16, 2016.
Josh Dinner
Starship Flight 13 to take place on July 16, SpaceX targets
Starship Launch No. 2 is here!
SpaceX announced in a blog post that the launch date for its Starship rocket is July 16. Flight 13 is the second flight of Version 3 and has a similar profile as Flight 12. The second Starship Version 3 (V3) launch will take place less than two month after the first. V3 is a more powerful, bigger upgrade to previous Starship designs.
On Thursday, at 6:45 pm EDT (2245 GMT), a 90-minute window of launch will start. The livestream will start about 30 minutes before liftoff. It can be viewed on Space.com, the company profile page on X or the mission page.
SpaceX Starship Flight 13 is scheduled for July 16, reveals the problems with previous launches
Josh Dinner

In-N-Out Burger was told to continue driving in a progressive Californian city on Monday after residents branded the drive-thrus as “pollution-monsters” by locals.
The Culver City Council, after more than one hour of passionate testimony, voted to extend the emergency moratorium for new drive-through restaurants by another 10 months.
This extension prevents the city from approvating any new projects including the In-N-Out proposed on Sepulveda Boulevard while city planners prepare an ordinance which could prohibit such projects citywide.
Dan O’Brien, a councilmember from Culver City, recused himself. This controversy revolves around what will be Culver City’s first drive-thru since 1997.
In-N Out wants to construct a restaurant of 3,890-square feet. This proposal has seating for 128 people, a parking area with 61 spaces and a drive through lane that can hold 26 cars.
Restaurant would be open from Sunday to Thursday, 10:30 am until 1 am and on Fridays until 1:30am.
The project was marketed as a boost to the economy, with well-paying employment, increased sales tax and an attractive development for nearby residents.
The restaurant will also provide late-night meals for overnight workers, such as police officers and healthcare professionals.
Residents painted an ominous picture of the consequences that another drive-thru might bring.
Speakers after speakers said that the In-N-Out proposal would increase traffic, lead to longer queues of vehicles idling, pollute the air, and pose additional risks for pedestrians. This is especially true for children who are walking near schools.
Theresa Klemick, a resident, told the councilmembers that they didn’t want them, as the restaurant proposal would “have impacted this neighborhood so, so badly.”
Leah Pressman, a resident of the city’s Leah Pressman neighborhood called drive-throughs “pollution monstrosities,” saying they are outdated due to curbside pickups and online orders.
Cynthia Miller asked why Culver City needed another drive-thru, when there are already nine. She said vehicle emissions cause harmful air pollution that can lead to serious health issues.
One resident was the only one to speak in support of moving forward with this project. Knox Gagnon, a neighbor of the In-N’-Out proposed restaurant in San Francisco, said that fears were exaggerated.
He said that the drive-thru is designed to accommodate 26 cars before backing onto nearby streets. Many modern vehicles also automatically turn off when idling. The location is also easily accessible via bus, bike and foot.
Albert Vera, a councilmember from the city of Los Angeles, acknowledged that he was initially in favor of bringing In-N’-Out into his neighborhood.
Vera stated, “I did not really see any problem with an In-N Out.” After months of listening to residents, Vera said that they have changed his opinion.
Vera stated, “I believe I have an responsibility to the community.” Vera said, “Sometimes changing your mind and listening to the community is a good idea.”
Freddy Puza, a left-wing mayor from Chicago, said that the election was not just about one hamburger chain.
Culver City’s General Plan 2045, he said, calls for the reduction of greenhouse gasses, improvement in air quality, safer streets, and encouragement to walk, bike, and use public transportation.
He pointed out that cities such as Santa Barbara, South Pasadena and Long Beach have also adopted regulations on the construction of drive-thrus.
Bubba Fish, Vice Mayor of the City of Vancouver, called the vote on Monday the first step towards a permanent ordinance. He noted that the 45-day moratorium originally approved by the city in June had been intended to allow the time necessary to revise the zoning codes.
Now, the proposal will be sent to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will then consider an ordinance that would ban new drive-thrus in the city permanently before sending it back to City Council to vote on.
The ordinance, if approved, would prevent any future drive-thrus from being constructed while leaving the existing ones in Culver City untouched.