1955 consumerism takes off in a big way with the sale of some 7.9 million cars in the US with 7 out of 10 families now owning a motor car, and new laws were put in place requiring seatbelts to be installed on all new cars. The average wages were now $3,851 per year, and the minimum wage was raised to $1.00 per hour. The first McDonalds was erected in 1955 and more fast foods and TV dinners are appearing including fish fingers. The first cans of Coka-Cola are sold up till then it had only been sold in bottles. Rock and Roll music continues to grow in popularity with more idols including Elvis Presley , Bill Haley and the Comets, Chuck Berry and The Platters, and young mens fashion matches the times with pink shirts and charcoal grey suits.
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 0.28%
Yearly Inflation Rate UK 3.5%
Average Cost of new house $10.950.00
Average Monthly Rent $87.00
Average Yearly Wages $4.130.00
Minumum Hourly Rate $1.00
Average Cost of a new car $1,900.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 23 cents
Ladies Swim Suits $12.95
Black and White TV $99.95
Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Stirling
Average House Price 2,064
Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )
Atomic Clock England
Hovercraft England by Christopher Cockerell
Lego Gotfried Kirk Christiansen
Velcro Switzerland by George De Mestral
Cost of Living 1955
How Much things cost in 1955Yearly Inflation Rate USA 0.28%
Yearly Inflation Rate UK 3.5%
Average Cost of new house $10.950.00
Average Monthly Rent $87.00
Average Yearly Wages $4.130.00
Minumum Hourly Rate $1.00
Average Cost of a new car $1,900.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 23 cents
Ladies Swim Suits $12.95
Black and White TV $99.95
Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Stirling
Average House Price 2,064
What Events Happened in 1955
- US military intervention in Iran
- Hurricane Diane hits the northeast United States, killing 200 and causing over $1 billion in damage
- Great Britain declares State of Emergency due to National Rail Strike
- British Newspapers Not Printed for 1 month due to strike in Fleet Street By Maintenence Workers
- The St. Lawrence Seaway opens to Ocean Vessels from Montreal to US ports on the Great Lakes
- The St. Lawrence Seaway opens to Ocean Vessels from Montreal to US ports on the Great Lakes
- The Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies sign the Warsaw Pact giving integration of military, economic and cultural policy between the eight Communist nations.
- Great Britain effected by worst winter storms causing roads, rail and problems with food and medical supplies
- Disneyland opens in California
- 52 Die in a disaster at 24hr Le Mans Race
- West Germany Joins NATO
- The Millitary siezes control in Brazil forcing Juan Peron to flee
- African American Rosa Parks is arrested after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person in Montgomery Alabama
Technology 1955
- First pocket transistor radios available
- Fish Fingers are marketed by Bird's Eye
- The first Atomically generated power is used in the US
Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )
Atomic Clock England
Hovercraft England by Christopher Cockerell
Lego Gotfried Kirk Christiansen
Velcro Switzerland by George De Mestral
Popular Culture 1955
- Ray Kroc starts the McDonald's fast food restaurant chain.
- First riot at an Elvis Presley concert takes place in Jacksonville, FL
- James Dean’s stars in the movie East of Eden
- James Dean killed in car accident near Cholame, California
Popular Films
- Oklahoma
- The Quatermass Xperiment
- Rebel without a Cause
- To Catch A Thief
- The Quatermass Xperiment
- The seven year itch
Popular Singers
- Elvis Presley
- Bill Haley and the Comets " Rock Around The Clock"
- Chuck Berry
- Fats Domino.
- The Platters
