Boston Tech, Class of 1981

Cost of Living 1981

How Much things cost in 1981
Yearly Inflation Rate USA10.35%
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
Sinclair ZX80 $199.95
19 inch Color TV $399.95

Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling
Average House Price 24,188
Gallon of Petrol 1.32
Yearly Inflation Rate UK 11.9%
Interest Rates Year End Bank of England 14.38%

What Events Happened in 1981

Iran

• Iran releases 52 American hostages, who had been held for 444 days

Poland

• Solidarity inspired popular protests and general strike lead to imposition of Marshal Law and eventual outlawing of solidarity party in Poland

UK

• Thatcher Government in England begin privatisation of Nationalised Industries creating economic revival , this format is later emulated in many other countries throughout the world

U.S.

• Air traffic controllers strike causing chaos in the US and The US President Ronald Reagan Fires Them

Northern Ireland

• Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands dies on May 5th while on the hunger strike, During that time Bobby Sands is elected to Westminster as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

U.S.

• Ronald Reagan becomes US President

France

• The first high speed train service in Europe begins with the French TGV / high-speed train between Paris and Lyon

UK

• Following plans between European Countries and the US to base Nuclear Missiles in Europe protesters including those at Greenham Common picket US bases

U.S.

• Anti nuclear protesters invade the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactor in California

U.S.

• Researchers find the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic

U.S.

• Muhammad Ali finally retires with career record of 55 wins and 5 defeats

U.S.

• US brings in new disability eligibility rules for those claiming disability affecting 500,000 who lose benefits

UK

• Rupert Murdoch shuts down the Sunday Times due to an industrial dispute

U.S.

• Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke admits her feature was fabricated and relinquished the Pulitzer Prize

U.S.

• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could require parental notification when teenage girls seek abortions .

UK

• Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper is caught, and imprisoned for life for 13 counts of murder

Greece

• Earthquake hits Athens, killing 16 people

Vatican

• Pope John Paul II, is shot but not killed in Vatican City

UK

• Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales.

Egypt

• Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is assassinated

U.S.

• Sandra Day O'Connor is nominated to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S.

• The first American test-tube baby, is born

UK

• Riots break out in a number of UK Cities including Brixton ( London ), Toxteth ( Liverpool ), and Moss Side ( Manchester )

U.S.

• The introduction of the first Frequent Flyer Miles AAdvantage introduced by American Airlines ( frequent flyer miles can be redeemed for free air travel )

UK

• Four senior Labour MP'S announce they will breakaway from Labour Party and set up the Social Democratic Party SDP under the leadership of Roy Jenkins

Syria

• 147 passengers and crew of a Pakistan Airways are taken hostage and released in Syria

Bangladesh

• Attempted coup in Bangladesh and the President Ziaur Rahman is murdered

Antigua

• Antigua and Barbuda Gains Independence From Great Britain

UK

• The First London Marathon is Run In England

• MTV (Music Television) is launched August 1st
• Simon And Garfunkel Reunite for concert in New Yorks Central Park

Born This Year 1981

Jennifer Tisdale News And Events From September 18th

Allison Crowe This Day In History November 16th

Britney Spears News And Events From December 2nd

Justin Timberlake This Day In History January 31st

Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser

Brazil President João Figueiredo

Canada Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau

China Chairman of the People's Republic of China Post Abolished

France President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Till 21 May
France President François Mitterrand From 21 May

Germany Chancellor Helmut Schmidt

India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi

Italy Prime Minister Arnaldo Forlani Till 28 June
Italy Prime Minister Giovanni Spadolini From 28 June

Japan Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki

Mexico President José López Portillo

Russia / Soviet Union
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Leonid Brezhnev

South Africa Prime Minister Pieter Willem Botha

United States President Jimmy Carter Till January 20,
United States President Ronald Reagan From January 20,

United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

Source: Pearson, Steve. "What Happened in 1981 Inc. Pop Culture, Prices and Events." The People History. 18 June 2006. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1981.html>.