The World in 1988
A snapshot of the world your baby was born into
1988
yourduedate.com
World Population
5.1 billion
Growing by 87 million per year
#1 Song
Faith
George Michael
Top Movie
Rain Man
$355 million worldwide
Top Baby Names
Jessica & Michael
Most popular in the US
Hot Tech
NeXT Computer
Steve Jobs, unveiled October 12
Space Milestone
Shuttle returns to flight
STS-26 Discovery, first since Challenger
New Dictionary Words
Road Rage, Killer App, Channel Surfing
First known use per Merriam-Webster
US President
Ronald Reagan
40th President
Gas Price
$0.90/gallon
National average
Grocery Prices
Milk $2.19 · Eggs $0.80
Per gallon / per dozen
First-Class Stamp
$0.25
USPS first-class letter
Median Home Price
$112,500
Median sales price (Census/HUD)
Minimum Wage
$3.35/hour
Federal minimum wage
S&P 500
278
Year-end close, up 16.6%
Super Bowl XXII
Redskins 42-10 Broncos
January 1988, San Diego
World Series
Los Angeles Dodgers
Beat Athletics 4-1, Kirk Gibson walk-off
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
60th Academy Awards, won all 9 noms
Then vs Now
1988 compared to 2025
Gas Price
1988
$0.90/gal
→
2025
$3.10/gal
+244%
Milk (per gallon)
1988
$2.19
→
2025
$4.07
+86%
Eggs (per dozen)
1988
$0.80
→
2025
$3.59
+349%
First-Class Stamp
1988
$0.25
→
2025
$0.78
+212%
Minimum Wage
1988
$3.35/hr
→
2025
$7.25/hr
+116%
Median Home Price
1988
$112,500
→
2025
$414,400
+268%
S&P 500
1988
278
→
2025
6,000
+2058%
World Population
1988
5.10B
→
2025
8.09B
+59%
Sources
Data compiled from official government sources, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Billboard, Box Office Mojo, SSA, NASA, and Merriam-Webster.
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