By the Numbers in 1980
World Population
4.4B
UK Life Expectancy
57.2 years
US Life Expectancy
57.5 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$612.56
Dow Jones Index
964
US National Debt
909.0B
Sovereign Nations
154
How Much Did Things Cost in 1980?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £23,500 | $68,700 |
| Average salary | £6,500 | $19,500 |
| Pint of milk | 17p | $0.58 |
| Loaf of bread | 33p | $0.50 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | £1.25 | $1.19 |
| Pint of beer | 35p | $1.00 |
| Dozen eggs | 52p | $0.84 |
| Cinema ticket | £1.50 | $2.69 |
Technology and Inventions in 1980
Home computing was in its infancy. The Sinclair ZX80 launched in the UK, and the Commodore VIC-20 was on the horizon. Most people still used rotary phones. VHS was winning the format war against Betamax. Pac-Man arrived in arcades and became a cultural phenomenon.
- ● Sinclair ZX80 home computer launched
- ● Pac-Man released in arcades
- ● CNN launched as first 24-hour TV news channel
- ● Sony Walkman began spreading globally after 1979 Japan launch
Shop 1980 memorabilia on eBay/Amazon