1980 As the continued miniaturization continues
new technology allows for new consumer products that could never have
existed to appear including Domestic Camcorders and Fax Machines, One
other notable is the release of the Pac-Man arcade game. Politics enters
the Olympic games with the boycott by the US of the Moscow Olympics and
War breaks out between Iraq and Iran. This was also a bad year for natural
disasters including Mount St. Helens eruption and a major heat wave in
the US.
Cost of Living 1980
How Much things cost in 1980
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 13.58%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 963
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 21.50%
Average Cost of new house $68,700.00
Average Income per year $19,500.00
Average Monthly Rent $300.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.19
Average cost new car $7,200.00
Mens Casual Shirt $14.00
What Events Happened in 1980
Start of Iran
-- Iraq War
Zimbabwe formerly Rhodesia gains independence
Majority black rule in Zimbabwe
Solidarity Trade Union Formed in Poland and
shipyard workers go on strike
Failed operation by US to free hostages
in Iran
Yassar Arafat is elected the President
of the Palestinian National Council
Ronald Reagan Elected President of the
USA
Terrorists seize Iran embassy and hostages
in London leading to the British SAS storming embassy and releasing
hostages
Japan becomes the worlds largest auto
maker
US leads boycott of Moscow Olympics
in protest at Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Mariel boat lift mass exodus of political
refugees from Cuba to the United States
Spain and United Kingdom agree to reopen
the border between Gibraltar and Spain, closed since 1969.
Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington
killing 57
Latest Cencus reveals US Population is 226,504,825
Severe Summer Heat Wave in Southern
US Causes 1,117 deaths in 20 States
Iran and Iraq begin a war that lasts 8 years
US Passes "Crude Oil Windfall Profits
Tax Act" to tax high profits by oil companies
The Killer Clown ( John Wayne Gacy
Jr ) sentenced to death for the murder of 33 boys and young men.
Former Beatle John Lennon is shot to death
Israel Replaces the Pound with a new currency
the Shekel
Fire Destroys the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas
Rioting Liberty City, Miami leaving 18 dead
A severe and destructive thunderstorm strikes
four counties in western Wisconsin
Hurricane Allen hits landfall on Haiti and
Jamaica
Alexander Kielland platform capsized in the
North Sea with the loss of 123
The Winter Olympic Games are
held in Lake Placid, New York, United States
Popular Culture 1980
Millions of
viewers tune into the TV soap opera Dallas to learn who shot lead character
J.R. Ewing.
John Lennon is shot outside his New York apartment
Popular Films
Star Wars Episode
V: The Empire Strikes Back
Superman II
Nine to Five
Raging Bull
Coal Miner's Daughter
Popular Musicians
ABBA
AC/DC
Adam and the Ants
Black Sabbath
Blondie with " Call Me "
David Bowie
The Cars
Eric Clapton
Alice Cooper
Elvis Costello
KC and The Sunshine Band
Michael Jackson
Queen with "Another One Bites the Dust"
Pink Floyd
Diana Ross " Upside Down "
Paul McCartney
Olivia Newton-John with " Magic "
Electric Light Orchestra
David Bowie
The Police
Technology 1980
First available
Domestic Camcorders available in Japan
First Available Fax Machines in Japan
30% of US car sales are imports
In Mexico first ever natural birth in captivity
of a Giant panda
Voyager 1 probe sends the first high resolution
images of Saturn back to scientists and confirms the existence of Janus,
a moon of Saturn.
Release of Pac-Man arcade game
CNN becomes the first 24hrs News Station
Digital Equipment Corporation, Intel
and Xerox introduce the DIX standard for Ethernet
