1966 inflation grew as part of the effect to fund the war in Vietnam continued. Both the US and USSR continued in their space race to see who would be the first to land a man on the moon. Race riots continued to increase across cities in America and National Guards were needed to bring back law and order. The fashions in both America and UK came from a small well known street in London ( Carnaby Street ) part of the swinging London scene , both women and men wore patterned pants and flowered shirts and boots, shoes and even caps utilized the plastic and vinyl for a wet shiny look. The most popular groups included The "Beach Boys" with Pet Sounds, The "Rolling Stones" with Under my Thumb and The "Beatles" with Revolver, and Yesterday and Today.

Cost of Living 1966

How Much things cost in 1966
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 3.01%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 785
Average Cost of new house $14,200.00
Average Income per year $6,900.00
Gas per Gallon 32 cents
Average Cost of a new car $2,650.00
Dishwasher $119.95
Parker Pen Set $11.95


What Events Happened in 1966

• Race Riots in Atlanta and Black Power becomes a significant factor in American Politics
• US has nearly 500,000 troops in Vietnam
• 4 dig under the Berlin Wall to gain freedom from East Germany
• The Salvation Army Celebrates 100 years
• Miniskirts are in fashion
• Cassius Clay Defeats Henry Cooper in two title fights in London
• Vietnam international days of protest
• Miranda Rights come into being after the Supreme Court overturns the conviction of a confessed rapist ruling he had not been properly informed of his right to council and to not testify against himself
• The Draft Deferment Test is started in the US as a way for students to convince the Draft Board that they would serve the nation better in the quiet of the Classrooms than in the Jungles of Vietnam
• The Houston Astrodome is built with the dome measuring 710 ft diameter
• Soviet Union Lands Luna 9 on the Moon in February and the US follows in June with the Surveyor 1 soft moon landing.
• Pakistani-Indian peace negotiations end successfully
• Indira Gandhi is elected Prime Minister of India
• The Australian Dollar was introduced at a rate of two dollars per pound, or ten shillings per dollar.
• Pope Paul VI and Arthur Michael Ramsey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, meet in Rome - the first official meeting for 400 years between the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches
• Earthquake in Turkey - 2394 dead, 10000 injured
• Aberfan disaster in South Wales in United Kingdom, a slag heap containing unwanted rock from the local coal mine slid down Merthyr Mountain. As it collapsed it destroyed twenty houses and a farm before going on to demolish virtually all of Pantglas Junior School 144 people were killed, 116 of whom were children mostly between the ages of 7 and 10.
• Barbados achieves independence
• US Population exceeds 195 million
• The Black Panthers are formed in US
• The Moors murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley are jailed for life for the murder of 3 children
• England defeats Germany to win the 1966 World Cup Final.
  
• China under Chairman Mao launches China's Cultural Revolution and begins purging intellectuals
• Botswana Gains Independence From Great Britain
• Ronald Reagan enters politics becoming governor of California
• Lesotho Gains Independence From Great Britain
• Barbados Gains Independence From Great Britain
• Harold Wilson and the Labour party wins the British General Election
  

Popular Culture 1966

• Star Trek first episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek
• Author Jacqueline Susann has her first novel, Valley of the Dolls published
• Simon and Garfunkel release Sounds of Silence.

Popular Films

• Thunderball
• Dr. Zhivago
• Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
• A Man for All Seasons
  

Popular Musicians

• The Mamas and the Papas
• The Beatles
• The Monkees
• The Beach Boys
• The Rolling Stones
• Simon and Garfunkel
  

Popular Songs

• I'm a Believer The Monkees
• Good Vibrations The Beach Boys
• Monday Monday The Mamas and the Papas
• Wild Thing The Troggs

Technology 1966

• Worlds first vertical Jump Jet the Harrier is introduced in UK
• Hovercraft service begins over the English Channel
• Pampers create the first disposable Diaper
• Color Television Sets become popular
• There are 78 million cars registered in the US

Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )

• Kevlar USA by Stephanie Kwolek
  Fiber Optics England by Charles Keo and George Hockham
• Moon Landing Russia Luna 9 lands softly on the Moon
• Space Docking USA Gemini VIII docks with an orbiting satellite