By the Numbers in 1955
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
54.3 years
US Life Expectancy
55.1 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$35.05
Dow Jones Index
426
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
74
How Much Did Things Cost in 1955?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £2,000 | $9,000 |
| Average salary | £500/year | $3,850/year |
| Pint of milk | 3½d | $0.23 |
| Loaf of bread | 5d | $0.18 |
| Dozen eggs | 3s 2d | $0.61 |
| Pint of beer | 1s 3d | $0.40 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 3s 8d | $0.29 |
| Cinema ticket | 2s 0d | $0.55 |
Technology and Inventions in 1955
Commercial television arrived in Britain with the launch of ITV, transforming the media landscape. The first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, was fully operational. Transistor technology was making electronics smaller. The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk was declared safe and effective, leading to mass vaccinations.
- ● Jonas Salk's polio vaccine declared safe and effective
- ● ITV launches as Britain's first commercial television channel
- ● The hovercraft is patented by Christopher Cockerell
- ● Velcro receives its trademark patent in the United States
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