1981 The Year I Was Born

How much did things cost?

• Yearly Inflation Rate USA 10.35%
• Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 875
• Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 15.75%
• Average Cost of new house $78,200.00
• Average Income per year $21,050.00
• Average Monthly Rent $315.00
• Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.25   Cost of a first class stamp $0.15 ($0.18 as of 3/22/81; $0.20 as of 11/1/81)
• Cost of a dozen eggs $0.90
• Cost of a gallon of milk $2.22
• 19 inch Color TV $399.95

Important Events

• Ronald Reagan becomes president!
• Titanic wreckage was found.
• Muhammad Ali retires with career record 55 wins and 5 defeats.
• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could require parental notification when teenage girls seek abortion.
• Sandra Day O'Connor is the first female nominated to the U. S. Supreme Court.
• The first American test tube baby is born.
• First Frequent Flyer Miles is introduced by American Airlines.
• Scientists identify the AIDS virus.
• First flight of U. S. Space Shuttle Columbia.
• IBM in U.S. launches its first PC.
• "Internet" first mentioned.
• Post It notes launched by 3M Corp.
• Artificially Produced Insulin becomes the worlds first genetically engineered protein to treat diabetes.
• MS-DOS released by Microsoft.
• MTV is launched on August 1st.
• Aspartame approved by the FDA.
• Supreme Court rules to allow cameras in the court room.

Things have changed a lot in the last 30 years.  We will be looking at some more fun facts from 1981 and from the day of my birthday as well.  I think it's fun (and a little sad) to look back at how different some things were.  And since Ronald Reagan was wonderful and has so many great quotes, I will be quoting him all week!


To sit back hoping that someday, someway, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last--but eat you he will.  ~Ronald Reagan

The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas-a trial of spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated.  ~Ronald Reagan