Mortality Rate Decreases Sharply in 2006

Preliminary number of death in the U.S. in 2006  fell to 2,425,900, a 22, 117 decrease from the 2005 total. With a rapidly growing older population, declines in the number of deaths (as opposed to death rates) are unusual, and the 2006 decline is likely the result of more mild influenza mortality  in 2006 compared with 2005.

Other preliminary number also, shows life expectancy at birth reaching a new record high in 2006 of 78.1 years, a 0.3 increase from 2005. Record high life expectancy was recorder for both white males and black males (76 years and 70 years, respectively) as well as for white females and black females ( 81 years and 76.9 years). Read full story here!