EPIC FAIL? Morning Nets Largely Ignore Inflation Announcement – Again

It was ignored by ABC, CBS and NBC’s morning news broadcasts. A new report on inflation showed that inflation is at 8.5 percent. That was the highest increase since 1981 — the same year Raiders of the Lost Ark Hit the Box Office.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation rose by an alarming 8.5% in just one year. This was reported on April 12th at 8:30 am. This was the “largest 12-month increase” since December 1981.

With a 32 percent jump in energy inflation over the previous year and gasoline rising by 48 percent, this was an alarming performance. The 8.8 percent increase in food inflation was also a significant rise. Inflation in shelter and housing rose 5% in the past year, the largest increase since over 30 years.

Americans have been struggling with high gasoline prices, and at the grocery store. This news was crucial. Where were the morning networks? ABC’s Good Morning America , CBS’s This Morning, and NBC’s TodayAnd Today’s Third HourThe BLS reported received almost zero coverage from broadcasts on April 12, 2012.

Instead viewers were treated to an immediatly fashion show and an interview with the star. Queer EyeA performance and fame from a pop artist are just two of the many stories.

CBS’s This Morning The morning program, which aired on April 12, had zero coverage of the inflation announcement. Although they had already seen possible outcomes, the co-hosts did not cover it. Instead, co-hosts Tony Dokoupil and Vladimir Duthiers gushed over fellow CBS correspondent Gayle King’s pink dress. “You look stunning,” Duthiers said. Gayle King did even a turn to the cheers and applauses from her co-hosts.

ABC’s Good Morning America CBS was barely able to match ABC’s coverage of the inflation story, with only minimal coverage. ABC reported the inflation news with one chyron. “Wall Street reacts to new consumer inflation figures out this morning as food and energy prices spike,” read the ABC chyron.

ABC’s April 12 Morning Show did not include a single report on the inflation rate. What else was ABC covering? Lara Spencer interviewed Jonathan Van Ness, author of Love That Story: Observations From a Gorgeously Queer Life. Van Ness came into prominence through his appearances on the show Queer Eye.

NBC’s TodayShow opted to interview Camila Cabello, pop singer. Cabello sang a selection of songs from Familia, her new album.

Surprisingly, NBC’s Today’s Third HourThe inflation announcement was actually covered, though only in part. NBC reporter Tom Costello accurately summarized inflationary pains, “[T]he big picture here, we’re all paying more for food, we’re all paying more for just about everything — for rent, for mortgages.” But he also claimed that the economy was “incredible” coming out of the pandemic and “running hot.”

Conservatives under attack For more information, contact ABC News by calling (818) 460-7777 or CBS News at (220) 975-3247. NBC News can be reached at (22) 664-6192. Hold them responsible for not giving viewers any coverage about the BLS inflation report on their morning programs.