IT HAPPENED IN…1983

The U.S. economy improved markedly with consumer prices up only 3.8%, personal income climbing 6.3%, a 10.6% rise in orders for manufactured goods, a 10.2% increase in automobile production, and new home construction 60% higher than in 1982.  At the same time, the number of Americans living in poverty grew to its highest level in 18 years.

The Washington Public Power Supply System defaulted on $2.25 billion in debts, the largest U.S. governmental failure in history.

The worst drought since 1936 ravaged the South and Midwest, destroying crops.

The third Monday in January was designated a national holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

The number of cable television subscribers reached 25 million.  The sale of 4.1 million VCRs heralded a basic change in television viewing habits.  The final episode of M*A*S*H drew 125 million viewers, the largest television audience ever for a non-sports program.

Newly introduced products and inventions included Cabbage Patch dolls and cellular phones.

NutraSweet was first used in diet soft drinks.

1,568 U.S. soft drink bottling plants were in operation.