By the Numbers in 1952
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
53.9 years
US Life Expectancy
55.0 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$35.02
Dow Jones Index
312
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
65
How Much Did Things Cost in 1952?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £1,700 | $8,000 |
| Average salary | £440/year | $3,500/year |
| Pint of milk | 3d | $0.23 |
| Loaf of bread | 4½d | $0.16 |
| Dozen eggs | 2s 10d | $0.72 |
| Pint of beer | 1s 1d | $0.37 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 3s 4d | $0.27 |
| Cinema ticket | 1s 9d | $0.55 |
Technology and Inventions in 1952
The hydrogen bomb era began with America's first thermonuclear test. Jet aviation advanced with the de Havilland Comet entering service as the world's first commercial jet airliner. Television was growing rapidly — the BBC broadcast to an expanding network of transmitters, and American homes added TV sets at an astonishing rate.
- ● De Havilland Comet becomes the first commercial jet airliner in service
- ● US detonates the first hydrogen bomb (Ivy Mike) at Enewetak Atoll
- ● First UK singles chart published by the NME on 14 November
- ● Sony introduces a miniature transistor radio prototype in Japan
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