That reading is pretty close, close enough.  If you are brewing from an extract and grain kit, you are going to be right around the kits stated OG, all of your fermentables are provided by the extract.  Might be a small amount provided by the steeping grain, but not much.  If your final volume is over 5 gallons it could cause the reading to be low, but the OG reading you listed is not a problem.

Primary: 

Secondary:

Bottled:-, 

On Deck:

-Scott10k-

The Bavarian Reinheitsgebot (Purity Law) of 1516 decreed that the only ingredients used in the production of beer were water, barley, and hops.  It was not until 1857 that Louis Pasteur discovered the role of microorganisms (yeast) in fermentation.

Just let everyone else has said, your OG isn't that far off.  Since I do most of my beers from extract with special grains I usually never take an OG anymore.  I also just take the average of what the directions say to figure my Alcohol level with my FG. 

The key thing is to relax and have a homebrew.

Primary:  None
Secondary:  None
Bottled:  Hard Cider, Blackberrycherry Mead, Belgain Sour
Kegged:  Black Lagar, Octoberfest, Hallertaur IPA
On Tap:  Rye IPA, Black IPA, Bopple Bock

Paul
CNYBrewing in Oklahoma

Your OG is fine.  The difference of .002 can be attributable to a multitude of variables, from the temp of your wort OG is taken, to the way you read the hydrometer itself.  All that aside, .002 is a negligible difference.  I've been off by a full ten points before, and the beer has come out just fine.

BTW, you mentioned steeping at 155 degrees to "extract the malt."  I assume you're talking about steeping your specialty grains.  There are no fermentable sugars that are derived from those specialty grains.  All of your fermentables are coming from the malt extract itself.  Specialty grains add color, texture, flavor, and mouthfeel (body), but that's about it.

You do get some fermentable sugars from crystal malt…

“The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with beer.”

- Egyptian proverb, c. 2200 BCE

I don't agree. If you boil 5 gallons you will still need to top off to bring your finished volume up. As was said, if you use extract then there should be no reason not to be right around the target gravity range. One other thing, the instructions may not be 100% correct. I remember 1 Northern Brewer kit had the wrong OG range printed on it and had to be changed. Unlikely, but possible.

I'd love to have a homebrew...but I'm 5 months pregnant!  Luckily the Belgian will be in the secondary for several months, so I will be able to enjoy it at optimal aging time.

As to the wort temperature, it was 75 degrees F, so it was not a result of hot wort.  My final volume was exactly five gallons- no topoff nor excess evaporation.

Thanks to all who gave me advice!