1968 vs. 2020
 

 

I thought it would be enlightening to share some perspective on the world today vs. 1968. I looked back to 1968 and compared that year to 2020 so far. Pretty amazing similarities in a lot of regards. The biggest difference is how we are handling today's issues in our "modern way". In many respects, we have fewer substantive issues than what the USA and the world were dealing with in 1968. Take a look at the information that follows. My conclusion is that we will persevere and overcome the current obstacles. Calm, logical and direct resolutions can be attained. If nothing else, history lets us realize that others have endured similar and certainly worse situations. 

Best wishes to everyone. I hope and pray that you are healthy and happy.

Paul D. 

 

1968	2020
Global population: 3,551,600,000 36% living in urban areas	Global Population: 7,950,000,000 56% living in urban areas
U.S. Population: 200.7 million	U.S. Population: 328.2 million
U.S. Population over age 65: 19,365,000, 9.5% of total population	U.S. Population over age 65: 53,348,000, 16.4% of total population
Average Life Expectancy: 69.95	Average Life Expectancy: 78.93
1/2/1969 DOW Industrial Average: 947.73	1/2/2020 DOW Industrial Average: 28,830
10 Year U.S. Treasury Average Rate: 5.65%	10 Year U.S. Treasury Average Rate: 0.76%
USA Average Home Price: $24,700	USA Average Home Price: $226,800
USA Average Car Price: $2,822	USA Average Car Price: $36,718
U.S. auto sales: 9.1 million units with 8.2 million units being domestic models	U.S. auto sales: 7.48 million units as of August with 2.8 million units being domestic models
Fortune 500 Top 5 Companies: General Motors, Exxon, Ford, General Electric, Chrysler	Fortune 500 Top 5 Companies: Walmart, Amazon, Exxon, Apple, CVS Health Care
Hong Kong flu pandemic H3N2 kills over 1 million people globally and over 100,000 in the USA. Most deaths are individuals over age 65. H3N2 continues to circulate worldwide as a seasonal flu virus.	Covid-19 pandemic has killed about 1 million people globally and over 200,000 in the USA. Most deaths are individuals over age 65.
Presidential Election: Nixon v. Humphrey	Presidential Election: Trump v. Biden
TET Offensive and Vietnam War	Limited conflicts in the Middle East
Global youth protests, Black Power Movement & Civil Rights Movement	 Black Lives Matter Movement
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Olympic year; Olympics are held in Mexico City, Mexico	Olympic year; Olympics are postponed until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic

For additional facts and information about 1968 history, please visit The People History. 

Statistics are from sources deemed reliable. DePaul Real Estate Advisors makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or accuracy of these statistics.