1999 History

 

1999 The worlds population exceeds Six Billion. The Wars in the Balkans continue to cause suffering in the region, but both sides do come to the table and a peace is agreed. The world prepares for the new millennium parties and computers around the world run testing for the millennium bug which could cause wide scale disruption to business and infrastructure if not fixed. The take up of the Internet and Mobile Phones around the world open up new opportunities for successful entrepreneurs.

 

Cost of Living 1999

How Much things cost in 1999
  • Yearly Inflation Rate USA 2.19%
  • Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 11,497
  • Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 8.50%
  • Average Cost of new house $131,750.00
  • Average Income per year $40,810.00
  • Average Monthly Rent $645.00
  • Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.22
  • Average cost of new car $21,050.00
  • US Postage Stamp 33 cents
  • 1 LB of Bacon $2.59
  • Ground Coffee per IB $3.41
  • Loaf of Bread $1.49
  • Dozen Eggs 89 cents

Events 1999

  • Renewed fighting between Pakistan and India over Kashmir
  • Democracy restored to Indonesia
  • Ford Acquires Volvo
  • 2 Devastating Earthquakes kill 14,000 people in Turkey
  • Serbs accelerate ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians leading to a NATO bombing attack
  • New multi party assembly in Northern Ireland meets restoring self rule after 22 years
  • European Union bans Beef Imports from the US over the widespread use of growth hormones
  • The human population of the world surpassed six billion.
  • Euro currency introducedon 1st January in 11 countries.

Technology

  • Internet Explorer version 5 released

  • The "Melissa" e-mail virus, infects more than 1 million computers worldwide causing more than $80 million in damage, clogging up E-Mail Systems around the world

  • Mars Climate Orbiter reaches Mars but due to software error taking spaceship to close to surface is destroyed by atmospheric stresses and friction

  • The US successfully tests a new anti intercontinental missile defense system

  • The year 2000 problem known as the Y2K problem and the millennium bug was the most important thing on most companies minds in 1999. Critical industries (such as electricity or financial) and government functions could stop working at 12:00 AM, January 1, 2000. This fear was fueled by the press coverage and other media speculation, as well as corporate and government reports. All over the world companies and organizations checked and upgraded their computer systems.

  • My Space was officially introduced to the Internet

  • Bluetooth announced.

  • The initial release of Napster

  • The genetic code that comprise the euchromatic portion of human chromosome 22 is released into the public domain for the good of mankind.

Popular Films

  • Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
  • The Sixth Sense
  • Toy Story 2
  • The Matrix
  • Tarzan
  • The Mummy
  • Notting Hill
  • The World Is Not Enough
  • American Beauty
  • Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
  • American Pie
  • October Sky
  • South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

Popular Musicians

  • Lenny Kravitz
  • Sarah McLachlan
  • Britney Spears
  • Enrique Iglesias
  • Kid Rock
  • Madonna
  • Cher
  • S Club 7
  • Ko?n
  • Christina Aguilera
  • Whitney Houston
  • Mariah Carey
  • Backstreet Boys
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Pearl Jam
  • Foo Fighters
  • Ricky Martin
  • Eminem
  • Limp Bizkit
  • The Offspring
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • Santana
  • Shania Twain
  • TLC
  • blink-182
  • Phil Collins
  • New Radicals

Popular Television

  • Simpsons
  • Beverly Hills 90210
  • One Foot in the Grave (UK)
  • Frasier
  • The X-Files
  • Chicago Hope
  • ER
  • Friends
  • 7th Heaven
  • Everybody Loves Raymond
  • Ally McBeal
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  • King of the Hill
  • South Park
  • The Practice
  • Teletubbies (UK)
  • The Wonderful World of Disney
  • Becker
  • Charmed
  • Dawson's Creek
  • Sex and the City
  • That '70s Show
  • The King of Queens
  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
  • Will & Grace