Editors: MYRON E. WEGMAN, M.D..
Reproduced below are the data and curves, by month, for 1951 and the first eight months of 1952, concerning estimated live births, marriage licenses, deaths and infant deaths. The material is reproduced from Vol. 1, No. 8, of the Monthly Vital Statistics Report of the National Office of Vital Statistics, Public Health Service, Federal Security Agency. The data are provisional and are based on reports received in registration offices. While subject to change when subsequent corrections are received, the figures reflect the true situation reasonably faithfully.
The 1952 birth rate, which appeared to be dropping below the 1951 figures, has increased again so that the cumulative rates are almost the same. This means, with the increase in total population, that the total number of births in 1952 will almost surely exceed the total number in 1951. Continued maintenance of such high birth rates will impose further burdens on children's health services and on public educational services later. [SEE CHART 1,2,3 AND 4 IN SOURCE PDF].
Marriage licenses continue to run below 1951 figures. The differences are not great, however, and the cumulative rate for the first eight months is only about 6% lower than last year.
Deaths in August were substantially lower than for July and the estimated rate for August, 8.5, is the lowest rate ever recorded in the U.S.A. for the month of August. The cumulative rate for the first eight months, however, is essentially the same as for 1951.