We have had some inflation in the last year or so and those figures for July through September set the rate for cost of living increases for Social Security and Civil Service annuities. This resulted in the largest increase for many years, 8.7%. Wow! Thinks I... what a boost. Then I call my tax guy who points out since my wife died this year I need to withold 15%, not 10% of my income for tax purposes. The taxes for a couple with X dollars are a lot less than a single person with the same income. This winds up with a real increase of 3.7%. Better than 0, though, and the inflation has really only affected food and utiiities in my budget anyway. I don't mind paying taxes for services, but I would feel a lot better if the 1%, the corporations and churches paid their fair share. Hopefully that opinion isn't too political for this thread.