Life Expectancy Up - Women and Minorities Hardest Hit

You might think that an increase in American's average life expectancy would be considered evidence that Americans are healthier. You'd be wrong.

AP Headline: Number of U.S. Deaths Up in 2005

Researchers also noted continued differences by race and sex. Life expectancy for whites in 2005 was 78.3, the same as in 2004. Black life expectancy rose from 73.1 in 2004 to 73.2 in 2005, but it was still nearly five years lower than the white figure.

Life expectancy for women continues to be five years longer than for men, the report also found. The infant mortality rate remained roughly the same as the previous year, about 6.9 per 1,000 live births.