1979 Government, Prices, & Economy

The Government in 1979

• President of the United States in 1979       Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
• Vice-President:       Walter Mondale
• Ohio U.S. Senators:       Howard Metzenbaum & John H. Glenn, Jr.
• U.S. Population in 1979       225,055,487 (vs. just over 300,000,000 in 2007)

The Economy in 1979

• Inflation was at 13.3% in 1979       (vs 2.3% now)
• Unemployment was at 6.1% in 1979       (vs. 5.9% now)
• The National Debt was $829 billion in 1979       (vs over $9 trillion now!)
• U.S. Life Expectancy in 1979       73.9 years (vs. 77.8 in 2004)

Prices in 1979

• Cost of a First Class stamp in 1979        $.15 (vs $.41 now)
• Cost of a dozen eggs in 1979       $.85 (vs $??? now)
• National average cost of a new home in 1979       $71,800 (vs $305,900 now!)
• Cost of a gallon of gas in 1979       $.86 (vs $3.19 now! WOW!)
• Cost of a gallon of milk in 1979       $1.62 (vs $2.99 now)