By the Numbers in 1931
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
51.3 years
US Life Expectancy
52.5 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$22.01
Dow Jones Index
37
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
56
How Much Did Things Cost in 1931?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £560 | $4,300 |
| Average salary | £190 | $1,290 |
| Pint of milk | 2d | $0.06 |
| Loaf of bread | 4d | $0.08 |
| Dozen eggs | 1s 1d | $0.36 |
| Pint of beer | 5d | $0.15 |
| Cinema ticket | 6d | $0.25 |
Technology and Inventions in 1931
The Empire State Building showcased American engineering at its peak, completed in just 410 days. Radio was the dominant home entertainment, with millions tuning into serials and music programmes. Commercial aviation expanded slowly, and electric refrigerators began replacing iceboxes in wealthier homes.
- ● The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest structure at 1,454 feet
- ● Harold Urey discovers deuterium (heavy hydrogen), advancing nuclear physics
- ● The electron microscope is invented by Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll in Berlin
- ● RCA demonstrates an all-electronic television system
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