This week, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released this major report on health in the United States, which presents the final data on 1998 US deaths and death rates. Despite its macabre title, the report does offer some positive statistics. Foremost among these is a ten percent drop in firearms deaths for teens and children compared to 1997. Other good news: "life expectancy at birth rose to a record high of 76.7 years," and mortality rates for eight of the leading fifteen causes of death decreased. However, ten children were still killed each day by firearms in 1998 and significant racial disparities in life expectancy and mortality levels remain. Users can download the full text of the 106-page report in .pdf format at the NCHS site.