By the Numbers in 1946
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
52.9 years
US Life Expectancy
54.2 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$35
Dow Jones Index
186
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
58
How Much Did Things Cost in 1946?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £700 | $5,150 |
| Average salary | £280 | $2,400 |
| Pint of milk | 2½d | $0.17 |
| Loaf of bread | 5d | $0.10 |
| Dozen eggs | 2s | $0.59 |
| Pint of beer | 9d | $0.19 |
| Cinema ticket | 1s | $0.35 |
Technology and Inventions in 1946
ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, was unveiled at the University of Pennsylvania. Television broadcasting resumed in Britain after the wartime suspension. The first mobile phone call was made using radio telephone technology. Mass production of civilian goods restarted as factories converted from wartime production.
- ● ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, unveiled at the University of Pennsylvania
- ● BBC Television Service resumed broadcasting after the wartime shutdown
- ● First car phone service launched by AT&T in St. Louis
- ● Vespa motor scooter introduced by Piaggio in Italy
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