"the rate at which those benefits tick up would be slower"
Heres the bottom line: Using chained CPI instead of CPI-W means the rate at which those benefits tick up would be slower, because the former reflects substitutions consumers would make in response to rising prices of certain items.Therein lies the chained part of the name. The metric utilizes a basket of goods and services that are measured changes from month to month; much like a daisy chain. If the cost of a certain form of transportation goes up, for example, people might switch to another kind. This kind of substitution is part of what is factored into chained CPI.
I can't EVEN believe this is Even on the table for one singe second, but there is no cut going forward, just no increase. That is a very important distinction. No one who get SS now will get less, but they also will not get any more (disgraceful.) I don't know if that matters to you, but to me at least I don't have to picture all those people out there having to suffer even more than they do now by taking a cut. To me it means all is going according to plan -thin the herds, no?