By the Numbers in 1971
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
56.2 years
US Life Expectancy
56.8 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$93.96
Dow Jones Index
851
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
129
How Much Did Things Cost in 1971?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £5,632 | $25,200 |
| Average salary | £1,720 | $9,400 |
| Pint of milk | 5p | $0.34 |
| Loaf of bread | 10p | $0.25 |
| Dozen eggs | 27p | $0.53 |
| Pint of beer | 13p | $0.70 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 34p | $0.36 |
| Cinema ticket | 33p | $1.65 |
Technology and Inventions in 1971
The microprocessor was born when Intel released the 4004 chip, though its impact would not be felt for years. Email was sent for the first time on ARPANET. Most homes still used rotary-dial telephones, and the pocket calculator was just reaching consumers at eye-watering prices.
- ● Intel releases the 4004, the first commercial microprocessor
- ● Ray Tomlinson sends the first network email on ARPANET
- ● The Lunar Roving Vehicle is driven on the Moon during Apollo 15
- ● Texas Instruments launches one of the first pocket calculators
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