Despite the fact that most foreclosure listing companies reported a nationwide decrease in foreclosures and default filings, the media offered headlines donned with the usual negative perspective.

RealtyTrac seems to be the only major listing company that offered statistics for August. The foreclosure listing company reported a 1 percent decrease in filings with a 13 percent decrease in repossessions. ForeclosureS.com didn’t offer a report for the month presumably because they found an increase in fillings, as they have historically reported larger number of properties in foreclosure.

Here are some of this week’s headlines:

From the Washington Post: “Foreclosure Filings Were Flat in August.”
The Post chose to use the lower valued decrease (1 percent) of filings as opposed to actual repossessions.

From CNNMoney.com: “Foreclosures: The struggle continues.” While the article states the decrease in the 4th paragraph, the major premise was that pre-foreclosures, although also having exhibited a decrease, may continue to creep back.

Los Angeles Business Journal reports: “RealtyTrac: California ranks 3rd in August Foreclosures.” This ranking down from second which should have been stated in the headline as the more important statement.

From the Columbus Business First BizJournal: “Ohio’s August foreclosures nudge up.” This nudge refers to the 3 percent increase from July. July happened to show a 15 percent decrease. In other words a 12 percent decrease since June.

Boston.com reports: “Foreclosures still high, even as economy brightens.” The article does not even mention the 13 percent decrease.

From the Financial Times: “US foreclosure flings remain near record high.” This article also has no mention of the 13 percent decrease in repossessions, only that “foreclosure activity among US properties slipped last month for the first time since May.”

Within the first 15 articles on a Google News search only one article mentions the national decrease. This comes from the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Foreclosures dip from July number.” However, you won’t find the larger decrease of 13 percent until the 9th paragraph.

In order to boost morale the media outlets should put a little more consideration on highlighting the upside of the economic situation.