The Indicator from Planet Money
The Indicator from Planet Money

Retiree benefits bump, credit repayment slump, and a dating app in the dumps

August 14, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Inflation data released this week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the CPI-W—a narrower inflation gauge used to calculate Social Security cost-of-living adjustments—rose 3.4% in July. That same week, the New York Fed reported that 12.8% of credit card balances are now seriously delinquent, a level not seen since the Great Recession. And the dating app Bumble announced it is abandoning its signature "women make the first move" rule after its paying user base shrank 16% over the past year. Three numbers, three very different stories about where the American economy stands right now.

The Social Security COLA is shaping up to be modest

Most people track the CPI-U, the broad consumer price index for all urban consumers. But Waylon Wong explained that the Social Security Administration uses a different measure called the CPI-W, which tracks urban wage earners and clerical workers. The W index covers about 30% of the U.S. population and was the only inflation index the government measured when Congress enacted the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security back in 1973.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:52) **CPI-W Inflation and Social Security COLA Estimates** - Waylon introduces a lesser-known inflation measure used to calculate the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.
  • 2 (04:26) **Seriously Delinquent Credit Card Debt at 12.8%** - Adrian reports on a New York Fed finding that a near-record share of credit card debt is at least 90 days past due.
  • 3 (06:14) **Bumble's 16% Decline in Paying Users and Strategic Pivot** - Ricky covers Bumble's falling subscriber base and its move to abandon its founding "women make the first move" rule.
  • 4 Standout Quotes
  • 5 (08:53) "Instead of paying for less of a bad thing, let's actually find interesting modalities to allow you to opt into more premium offerings to get more of a good thing." — Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd, on the company's turnaround strategy.
  • 6 (09:06) "Imagine if you went on a first date with someone and they talked like that. They're like, 'you know, so what are you into?' 'I'm into interesting modalities that allow me to opt into more premium offerings.' I'd be like, 'Chuck, please.'" — Ricky Moldy, translating CEO speak.
  • 7 Mentioned Resources

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Waylon Wong Adrian Ma

Show Notes

It’s Indicators of the Week!

On today’s episode: Retirees get a bump in benefits; credit card debt delinquency at a historically high level; and the dating app Bumble on a serious decline — Men first! IRL events! What will work! 

Fact checking by Cooper Katz McKim and Vito Emanuel.

Your Next Listen 
— Trying to fix the dating app backlash

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