SNAP Benefits Rise 29 and Dollar Hits 18 Pesos as US Job Growth Slows
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has adjusted SNAP benefits for inflation, effective October 1, 2026. A family of four can now receive up to $1,023 per month, an increase of $29 from the previous $994. Single individuals will see their maximum benefit rise to $306, up from $298. The minimum benefit has also increased to $25. States will now cover 75% of SNAP administrative costs, up from 50%, due to changes in federal spending laws.
Social Security beneficiaries received their October payments early due to the weekend. COLASSI recipients got their payments on October 1, while those who typically receive benefits on the 3rd were paid on October 2. The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be announced on October 14, based on September's inflation data. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 3.5% through August, but the final COLA will be calculated using the average of July, August, and September.
The U.S. dollar reached a high of 18.3688 Mexican pesos on October 1, marking a 2.7% increase from the previous week. In Colombia, the dollar weakened slightly, with the Representative Market Rate (TRM) falling 0.7% to 3,307.73 pesos. Those sending remittances to Mexico now see about 48 cents more per dollar compared to a week earlier.
The U.S. economy added only 29,000 jobs in September, a significant drop from the revised 133,000 jobs in August. Unemployment rose to 4.2%, though it decreased slightly among Hispanics to 4.7%. Average hourly wages in the private sector increased 3.0% year-over-year to $37.81. Gasoline prices remain high, averaging $4.47 per gallon, while diesel costs $6.38. The Federal Reserve's interest rate remains between 3.75% and 4%, with the next decision set for October 28.