THIS year's summary of provisional vital statistics for the United States in 1961 indicates that over-all birth and death rates are essentially unchanged from 1960. Each year the National Vital Statistics Division, a unit of the Public Health Service, publishes estimated rates that, except when specifically noted, are provisional and based on a 10% sample of reported births and deaths. Experience has shown, however that final national figures agree closely with these estimates, which are derived from monthly reports on certificates filed in registration offices around the country. The rates for 1961 are published in Volume 10, No. 13, April 30, 1962 (Part 1) and July 31, 1962 (Part 2), of the Monthly Vital Statistics Report.