Life expectancies reach record high

Life expectancies for Americans have reached record highs, according to the US mortality statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The average life expectancy in 2003 was 77.6 years, up from 77.3 in 2002, according to the report, titled "Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2003."

There has long been a gap between life expectancies for males and females; in 1979 it peaked at a difference of 7.8 years. Since that year, however there has been a narrowing trend. In 2002, the gap had dwindled to 5.4 years. In 2003, it was 5.3 years.

Record life expectancies were reached for Americans of both genders, and for whites and blacks. White males can expect to live 75.4 years; for black males it's 69.2 years. White females have an average life expectancy of 80.5 years; for black females, the number drops to 76.1 years.