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Issue Date: January 2, 2005
1985 by the Numbers
By Brian Truitt
Top TV show of the 1984-85 season: Dynasty
Top TV show today: CSI
Americans diagnosed with AIDS in 1985: 22,996
Americans diagnosed with AIDS today: 850,000 to 950,000 (estimated)
Survival rate for cancer patients in 1985: 79% (breast), 54% (all)
Survival rate for cancer patients today: 88% (breast), 64% (all)
Top album in 1985: No Jacket Required, Phil Collins
Top album in 2004: Confessions, Usher
Average movie ticket price in 1985: $3.55
Average movie ticket price today: $6.26
Unemployment rate in 1985: 7.2%
Unemployment rate today: 5.5%
Makeup of Congress in 1985: Senate: 47 Democrats, 53 Republicans; House: 253 Democrats, 182 Republicans
Makeup of new Congress this month: Senate: 44 Democrats, 55 Republicans, 1 Independent House: 200 Democrats, 234 Republicans, 1 Independent
Best-selling diet book in 1985: Fit for Life, Harvey and Marilyn Diamond
Best-selling diet book today: The South Beach Diet, Arthur Agatston
Michael Jordan signs five-year, $2.5 million Nike Air Jordan sneaker deal in 1985.
LeBron James signs seven-year, $90 million Nike endorsement contract in 2003.
Number of cellphone subscribers in 1985: 340,000
Number of cellphone subscribers today: 175 million
Number of cable channels available in 1985: 56
Number of cable channels available today: 446
Average price of a gallon of regular gas in 1985: $1.20
Average price of a gallon of regular gas at press time: $1.91
No. 1 self-help book in 1985: "The Be Happy Attitudes," Robert H. Schuller
No. 1 self-help book today: "The Purpose-Driven Life," Rick Warren
Internet domain names registered in 1985: 6
Internet domain names registered today: 63 million
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