By the Numbers in 1961
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
54.9 years
US Life Expectancy
55.4 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$35.22
Dow Jones Index
638
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
93
How Much Did Things Cost in 1961?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £2,770 | $12,500 |
| Average salary | £750 | $5,505 |
| Pint of milk | 4½d | $0.13 |
| Loaf of bread | 5½d | $0.21 |
| Dozen eggs | 3s 8d | $0.57 |
| Pint of beer | 1s 2d | $0.30 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 4s 8d | $0.31 |
| Cinema ticket | 2s 9d | $0.69 |
Technology and Inventions in 1961
Space exploration dominated the headlines as both superpowers pushed to put humans in orbit. Domestic appliances like washing machines and refrigerators were becoming standard in Western homes.
- ● Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space aboard Vostok 1
- ● Alan Shepard became the first American in space
- ● IBM introduced the Selectric typewriter with its golf-ball element
- ● The first industrial robot, Unimate, was installed at a General Motors plant
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