Curious headline

Every month around this time the WSJ reports breathlessly on the Bureau of Labor Statistics release on state unemployment rates with headlines like "Unemployment in States Remains High." The story starts:

Unemployment rates were little changed in most states in October, as a recovery in the labor market remained sluggish across the country.

The Labor Department reported that 19 states and Washington DC experienced jobless-rate decreases, while the rate rose in 14 regions and was unchanged in 17.

Well, we kind of knew this already didn't we? The national numbers did come out on Nov. 5 and showed a steady unemployment rate. What, you thought that unemployment would be plummeting in most states while the national number was unchanged?