By the Numbers in 1951
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
53.8 years
US Life Expectancy
54.9 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$35.01
Dow Jones Index
274
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
62
How Much Did Things Cost in 1951?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £1,600 | $7,800 |
| Average salary | £420/year | $3,400/year |
| Pint of milk | 2½d | $0.22 |
| Loaf of bread | 4½d | $0.16 |
| Dozen eggs | 2s 8d | $0.72 |
| Pint of beer | 1s 1d | $0.36 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 3s 2d | $0.27 |
| Cinema ticket | 1s 6d | $0.53 |
Technology and Inventions in 1951
Commercial computing took its first steps as the Ferranti Mark 1, the world's first commercially available general-purpose computer, was delivered to Manchester University. Nuclear power was being developed, and jet airliners were in testing. Television ownership in Britain climbed towards 1.5 million sets.
- ● UNIVAC I becomes the first commercial computer delivered in the US
- ● First direct-dial transcontinental telephone call made in North America
- ● Electric power generated from nuclear energy for the first time at EBR-I in Idaho
- ● Ferranti Mark 1 delivered — first commercial general-purpose computer
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