Average life expectancy for Americans has hit an all-time high of almost 78 years, according to a new CDC report. From 2004 to 2005, life expectancy for blacks increased from 73.1 to 73.2; meanwhile, the figure for whites held steady at 78.3. Deaths due to HIV/AIDS fell during the period from 13,063 to 12,456. The District of Columbia experienced the most deaths per 100,000 people - 996. An analysis released last month by the University of Washington's Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation found that the United States lags behind 41 countries in life expectancy. "Something's wrong here when one of the richest countries in the world, the one that spends the most on health care, is not able to keep up with other countries," said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the institute.

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