The world’s most popular word processing program is launched: Microsoft Word.
Following on from the start of the recession in the US, Unemployment rises to 12 million.
In Ethiopia following the worst drought in history the death toll reaches a staggering 4 million.
The US starts deploying Cruise Missiles and Pershing Missiles in Europe at the Greenham Common Air Force Base in England.
West Germany is amid mass protests.
Ethiopia Famine kills 4 million
IBM releases the IBM PC XT
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) proposed
Harrods Bombing
US Unemployment reaches 12 million
Space Shuttle Challenger is launched Maiden Flight
Cruise Missiles Deployed in Europe
Population:
- Wake County: 327,627
- NC: 6,077,000
- USA: 233,800,000
National Debt:
- $1,377,210,000,000 (1983)
- $18,152,809,942,589 (2015)
Value of a Dollar: $1 in 1983 is $2.40 in 2015
Cost Of Living 1983:
- Yearly inflation rate: 3.22%
- Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average: 1258
- Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve: 11%
- Average cost of new house: $82,600
- Median price Of an existing home: $70,300
- Average income per year: $21,070
- Average monthly rent: $335
- Dodge RAM 50 Truck: $5665.00
- Volkswagen Rabbit: $6,994.00
- Ford Mustang: $6,572.00
- Timex Sinclair Color Computer: $179.99
- Milk 2% Gallon: $1.35
- Kraft Singles Cheese (12): $1.49
- Men’s Leather Shoes: $39.99
- Cheeseburger at McDonald’s: $0.38
- Ticket to Disneyland: 1 Day Ticket $15-$17; 2 Day Ticket $27.00; 3 Day World Passport $35.00
Ounce of Gold Price:
- The cost of an ounce of gold was $424.35
- The inflation-adjusted price of an ounce of gold was $1,020.07
Cost of a movie ticket: $3.15
Inflation-adjusted price of a movie ticket: $7.57
The cost of a movie ticket in 2015: $7.92
Top 5 Movies:
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Terms of Endearment
- Flashdance
- Trading Places
- War Games
- Best Picture: Terms of Endearment
- Best Director: James L. Brooks – Terms of Endearment
- Best Actor: Robert Duvall – Tender Mercies
- Best Actress: Shirley MacLaine – Terms of Endearment
- Best Supporting Actor: Jack Nicholson – Terms of Endearment
- Best Supporting Actress: Linda Hunt – The Year of Living Dangerously
- Dallas – CBS – 21,536,600
- 60 Minutes – CBS – 20,279,600
- Dynasty – ABC – 20,195,800
- The A-Team – NBC – 20,112,000
- Simon & Simon – CBS – 19,944,400
- Magnum, P.I. – CBS – 18,771,200
- Falcon Crest – CBS – 18,436,000
- Kate & Allie – CBS – 18,352,200
- Hotel – ABC – 17,681,800
- Cagney & Lacey – CBS – 17,514,200
- Police -Every Breath You Take
- Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
- Irene Cara – Flashdance… What A Feeling
- Men At Work – Down Under
- Michael Jackson – Beat It
- Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart
- Daryl Hall and John Oates – Maneater
- Patti Austin and James Ingram – Baby Come To Me
- Michael Sembello – Maniac
- Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
- Culture Club – Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
- Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle – You And I
- Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
- Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band – Shame On The Moon
- Donna Summer – She Works Hard For The Money
- Sergio Mendes – Never Gonna Let You Go
- Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
- David Bowie – Let’s Dance
- Golden Earring – Twilight Zone
- Frida – I Know There’s Something Going On
- Can’t Even Get The Blues – Reba McEntire
- Going Where The Lonely Go – Merle Haggard
- (Lost His Love) On Our Last Date – Emmylou Harris
- Talk To Me – Mickey Gilley
- Inside – Ronnie Milsap
- ‘Til I Gain Control Again – Crystal Gayle
- Faking Love – T. G. Sheppard & Karen Brooks
- Why Baby Why – Charley Pride
- If Hollywood Don’t Need You – Don Williams
- The Rose – Conway Twitty
- I Wouldn’t Change You If I Could – Ricky Skaggs
- Swingin’ – John Anderson
- When I’m Away From You – Bellamy Brothers
- We’ve Got Tonight – Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton
- Dixieland Delight – Alabama
- American Made – The Oak Ridge Boys
- You’re The First Time I’ve Thought About Leaving – Reba McEntire
- Jose Cuervo – Shelly West
- Whatever Happened To Old Fashioned Love – B. J. Thomas
- Common Man – John Conlee
ACC Football Champ: Maryland
ACC Basketball Champs: NC State (NCSU 81 – Virginia 78)
World Series Winner: Batimore Orioles over the Philadelphia Phillies
Heavyweight Boxing Champs: Michael Dokes, Gerrie Coetzee and Larry Holmes
Super Bowl XVII: Washington Redskins (Redskins 27 – Miami Dolphins 17)
NASCAR Season Winner: Bobby Allison
Masters Winner: Seve Ballesteros (8 under – won $90,000)
Wimbledon Winners:
- Men’s Singles: United States John McEnroe defeated New Zealand Chris Lewis 6–2, 6–2, 6–2
- Women’s Singles: United States Martina Navratilova defeated United States Andrea Jaeger 6–0, 6–3
- Men’s Doubles: United States Peter Fleming / United States John McEnroe defeated United States Tim Gullikson / United States Tom Gullikson 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
- Women’s Doubles: United States Martina Navratilova / United States Pam Shriver defeated United States Rosemary Casals / Australia Wendy Turnbull 6–2, 6–2
- Mixed Doubles: Australia Wendy Turnbull / United Kingdom John Lloyd defeated United States Billie Jean King / United States Steve Denton 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 7–5