WSJ overlooks story that affects 50 million people

Seems strange that The Wall Street Journal yesterday missed an economic story that affects 50 million people, a solid slice of the U.S., observes Grumpy Editor. 

The absent piece, which made its way to front pages of other publications around the country, was word that Social Security recipients come January will receive a 2.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).  That’s a full 1 percent below this year’s figure, making it the smallest increase in four years.

However, The Journal’s Web site shows an eight-paragraph Associated Press story on the announcement, posted Oct. 17 at 9:39 a.m.  But it never got into print --- via staffer or AP version.

Fitting the information into Thursday’s editorial space wasn’t the problem.  For example, WSJ editors managed to work in an item on a former chief executive of a software firm sentenced to four weeks of community confinement.

For most Social Security recipients faced with higher inflation --- although the WSJ continues to use the word “tame” when covering the subject --- the COLA is a key announcement for them annually in mid-October.