By the Numbers in 1981
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
57.3 years
US Life Expectancy
57.6 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$589.66
Dow Jones Index
1,143
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
157
How Much Did Things Cost in 1981?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £24,200 | $70,300 |
| Average salary | £7,100 | $20,600 |
| Pint of milk | 18p | $0.60 |
| Loaf of bread | 37p | $0.52 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | £1.40 | $1.31 |
| Pint of beer | 40p | $1.10 |
| Dozen eggs | 55p | $0.87 |
| Cinema ticket | £1.60 | $2.78 |
Technology and Inventions in 1981
The IBM PC launched and defined the personal computer era. MTV debuted on 1 August with 'Video Killed the Radio Star.' The first Space Shuttle Columbia flew. Xerox PARC's GUI ideas were spreading, though the mainstream wouldn't see them for years.
- ● IBM PC launched, defining the personal computer standard
- ● MTV launched on 1 August 1981
- ● Space Shuttle Columbia made its maiden flight
- ● MS-DOS became the dominant PC operating system
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