Why would newspapers never use the percent sign?

Question

Newspapers in English nearly always use the word "percent" or short form "pc" (in titles), but never the percent sign % to describe percentages. This is true even in business or science news. Why? Does it have anything to do with typesetting concerns?

Answer 1

Good question, I actually never realized, but it's true. I am keen to hear the answer myself.

Answer 2

It's strictly style. For instance an artical could say something went up two percent or 12 percent. Ten and below the number is spelled out and 11 and above it's written in numerals. This is the Associated Press style (and you can find the associated style book in any college book store that teaches journalism). The Associated Press is a group of newspapers and free lance reporters that sell theri paper over the "wire." The Associated Press charges for access to this "wire" which is basically the telephone system. There are other lesser known "wire" services too.

Answer 3

It is indeed typesetting concerns. It is much easier to spell the word than balance type set for a special symbol; although, the newer machines are much easier to use than the typesetting machines which I used generating a high school and then college newspaper over 30 years ago.

Answer 4

I think it is just a stylistic law, like MLA format.

See here:
http://www.loc.gov/ndnp/pdf/NDNP_style.pdf