Life in 1992

Aug 23 2008 by Aled Blake, Western Mail

The economy recorded its first zero growth since 1992 in the second quarter of this year, exactly 16 years after it last performed so poorly.

Here is a reminder of life in Britain 16 years ago:

The Conservatives won the general election in April, returning John Major as Prime Minister.

“Black Wednesday” on September 16 saw the withdrawal of sterling from the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM).

The average price of a pint of lager was £1.39 and the average 20-pack of cigarettes cost £2.10.

A pint of milk cost 38p, while a Mars bar was 24p and a standard loaf of white bread 54p.

The Channel Tunnel opened, linking London and Paris by rail.

The UK suffered its worst droughts since 1745.

Disney’s Aladdin was the highest grossing film, taking $501,900,000 at the box office worldwide.

Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You from The Bodyguard’s official film soundtrack was the top-selling single in the UK, notching up 1,355,055 sales.

The Queen called it her “annus horribilis”, expressing her sorrow at a year which saw the break-up of two family marriages, one divorce and the fire at Windsor Castle.

Betty Boothroyd was the first woman in six centuries to be appointed Speaker of the House of Commons and the Church of England began allowing women priests.