I am a long-time subscriber to Crain’s New York Business, one of the best publications of its kind, and the other week they celebrated their 25th anniversary. Crain’s has some interesting tidbits in comparing the environment of 25 years ago and today.
Average pay in NYC: 1985…$24,887. 2008…$80,260
Average 1-BR co-op/condo in Manhattan: 1985… $249,452. 2009…$711,736
Average 30-year fixed rate for NY area co-op mortgage: May 1985…13.28%. May 2010…5.13%
Murders in NYC: 1985…1,384. 2009…471 [Murder rate peaked at 2,245 in 1990, at the height of the crack epidemic.]
Overweight/Obese NYC residents: 1985…21.3%. 2008… 60.0%
Columbia University tuition and fees: 1985-86… $10,430. 2009-10…$41,316
Compensation for first-year associate at leading Wall Street investment bank: 1985…$42,000, plus $6,000 bonus after six months. 2009…$96,000, plus $80,000+ signing bonus and guaranteed bonuses.
NYC budget: 1985…$19.2 billion. 2010…$63.5 billion
Average dinner tab at restaurant in NYC: 1985… $29.81. 2010…$41.81 [surprised?]
Average Broadway show ticket: 1985…Cats / $40.90. 2010…Wicked / $108.14
