World Events

• US and Canada reach free trade agreement (Jan. 2). Background: NAFTA
• Terrorists kill nine tourists on Aegean cruise (July 11).
• Benazir Bhutto, first Islamic woman prime minister, chosen to lead Pakistan (Dec. 1).
• Pan-Am 747 explodes from terrorist bomb and crashes in Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 aboard and 11 on ground (Dec. 21).

 U.S. Statistics

• Robert C. McFarlane, former National Security Adviser, pleads guilty in Iran-Contra case (March 11).
• US Navy ship shoots down Iranian airliner in Persian Gulf, mistaking it for jet fighter; 290 killed (July 3).
• Democratic convention nominates Gov. Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts for President and Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen for Vice President (July 17 et seq.).
• Republican convention nominates George Bush for President and Indiana Senator Dan Quayle for Vice President (Aug. 15 et seq.).
• Republicans sweep 40 states in election, and Bush beats Dukakis (Nov. 8).

Economics

What was the price of gas in 1988?

it fluctuated between 72 cents and 98 cents

US GDP (1998 dollars):   $5,049.60 billion
Federal spending:   $1064.14 billion
Federal debt:   $2601.3 billion
Median Household Income
(current dollars):  $27,225
Consumer Price Index:   118.3
Unemployment:   5.5%
Cost of a first-class stamp:   $0.22 ($0.25 as of 4/3/88)

• Ninety-eight percent of U.S. households have at least one television set.
• CDs outsell vinyl records for the first time.
• Ted Turner starts Turner Network Television (TNT) and buys MGM's film library.

• Rain Man, Mississippi Burning, A Fish Called Wanda, Bull Durham

• Peter Carey, Oscar and Lucinda
• Anne Tyler, Breathing Lessons

• France and China permit use of "morning-after" birth-control drug RU486 (Mifepristone). Background: Birth & Contraception
• NASA scientist James Hansen warns congress of the dangers of the global warming and the greenhouse effect. Background: Environment & Nature

• Roy Orbison
• Chet Baker
• Luis Alvarez
• Edgar Jean Faure
• Nora Astorga

Top 100 Songs of 1988
  
This list was compiled from over 2700 votes across 40 different 1980s polls on TopHitsOnline.com from 2006 to present.  How many do YOU remember?

****  NUMBER ONE ****
 1. Sweet Child 'O Mine, Guns N Roses
2  Need You Tonight, INXS
3  The Way You Make Me Feel, Michael Jackson
4  Every Rose Has It's Thorn, Poison
5  Together Forever, Rick Astley
6  Red, Red Wine, UB40
7  Love Bites, Def Leppard
8  Tell It To My Heart, Taylor Dayne
9  One Moment In Time, Whitney Houston
10  One More Try, George Michael
11  Hysteria, Def Leppard
12  Beds Are Burning, Midnight Oil
13  Father Figure, George Michael
14  Man In The Mirror, Michael Jackson
15  Devil Inside, INXS
16  Kokomo, The Beach Boys
17  Push It, Salt-N-Pepa
 18  Dirty Diana, Michael Jackson
19  Welcome To The Jungle, Guns N Roses
20  Wishing Well, Terence Trent D'Arby
21  New Sensation, INXS
22  Wild, Wild West, The Escape Club
23  Rag Doll, Aerosmith
 24  So Emotional, Whitney Houston
25  Groovy Kind Of Love, Phil Collins
26  Pour Some Sugar On Me, Def Leppard
27  She's Like The Wind, Patrick Swayze
28  Forever Young, Alphaville
29  I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love, Chicago
30  Please Don't Go Girl, New Kids On The Block
31  I Don't Want To Live Without You, Foreigner
   32  Angel, Aerosmith
33  Hungry Eyes, Eric Carmen
34  The Flame, Cheap Trick
35  What A Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
36  Desire, U2
37  I Found Someone, Cher
38  Don't Worry Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin
39  It Takes Two, Rob Base & D.J E-Z Rock
40  Forever Young, Rod Stewart
41  Got My Mind Set On You, George Harrison
  42  Could've Been, Tiffany
 43  Hazy Shade Of Winter, Bangles
44  Everywhere, Fleetwood Mac
45  Fast Car, Tracy Chapman
46  I Should Be So Lucky, Kylie Minogue
47  Electric Blue, Icehouse
48  Naughty Girls (Need Love Too), Samantha Fox
 49  Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick Astley
50  Theme From S-Express, S-Express
51  Pump Up The Volume, M/A/R/R/S
52  Fallen Angel, Poison
53  Wait, White Lion
54  Parents Just Don't Understand, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
55  The Loco-Motion, Kylie Minogue
56  There's The Girl, Heart
57  Walk On Water, Eddie Money
58  Kissing A Fool, George Michael
59  I Get Weak, Belinda Carlisle
60  Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Billy Ocean
61  The Only Way Is Up, Yazz & Plastic Population
62  All Fired Up, Pat Benatar
63  I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That, Elton John
64  Never Let Me Down Again, Depeche Mode
65  I Need A Man, Eurythmics
66  The Promise, When In Rome
67  Rhythm Of Love, Yes
68  Out Of The Blue, Debbie Gibson
69  Rush Hour, Jane Wiedlin
70  Endless Summer Nights, Richard Marx
71  Route 66/Behind The Wheel, Depeche Mode
72  Candle In The Wind, Elton John
73  What Have I Done To Deserve This?, Pet Shop Boys (& Dusty Springfield)
74  Nothin' But A Good Time, Poison
75  Just Like Paradise, David Lee Roth
76  I Hate Myself For Loving You, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
77  It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), R.E.M.
78  I Wasn't The One (Who Said Goodbye), Agnetha Faltskog & Peter Cetera
79  The Great Commandment, Camouflage
80  Seasons Change, Expose'
81  Strangelove, Depeche Mode
82  Always On My Mind, Pet Shop Boys
83  I Don't Want Your Love, Duran Duran
84  Nite And Day, Al B. Sure!
85  Hands To Heaven, Breathe
86  Love In The First Degree, Bananarama
87  Circle In The Sand, Belinda Carlisle
88  On The Turning Away, Pink Floyd
89  Bad Medicine, Bon Jovi
90  Foolish Beat, Debbie Gibson
91  Don't Be Cruel, Bobby Brown
92  Never Knew Love Like This, Alexander O'Neal f/ Cherrelle
93  Twilight World, Swing Out Sister
94  Better Be Home Soon, Crowded House
95  Love Changes (Everything), Climie Fisher
96  I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man, Prince
97  Just Like Heaven, The Cure
98  Knocked Out, Paula Abdul
99  Alphabet St., Prince
100  Don't You Know What The Night Can Do?, Steve Winwood