1998

What Was Happening in 1998

France hosts and wins the World Cup, Google is born, and the Clinton scandal dominates headlines.

Born in

By the Numbers in 1998

World Population

UK Life Expectancy

58.7 years

US Life Expectancy

59.1 years

Gold Price (per oz)

$293.53

Dow Jones Index

9,180

US National Debt

Sovereign Nations

188

How Much Did Things Cost in 1998?

ItemUKUS
Average house price£73,000$128,000
Average salary£18,500$37,500
Pint of milk33p$0.65
Loaf of bread64p$0.82
Dozen eggs£1.18$1.12
Pint of beer£1.60$2.80
Gallon of petrol/gas£2.65$1.06
Cinema ticket£3.60$4.69

Technology and Inventions in 1998

Google was founded and quickly became the search engine of choice. Apple launched the colourful iMac G3, signalling the company's comeback. MP3 players were emerging, and Napster was just around the corner. The first camera phones appeared in Japan.

  • Google founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin
  • Apple iMac G3 launched in Bondi Blue
  • Windows 98 released
  • The first MP3 player (Diamond Rio PMP300) went on sale

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More About 1998

What Was Happening — A journey through the years