American Decades

Important Events in Business and the Economy, 1950–1959

The gross national product (GNP) reaches $284.6 billion, up from $100.6 billion in 1940.
Television advertisers spend $171 million.
DuPont introduces Orlon and approves plans to spend $50 million on construction of research and development facilities.
The first Xerox copy machine is produced.
On January 1, some 31 percent of U.S. women work outside the home.
From January 11 to March 5, the U.S. coal industry suffers from massive strikes.
On January 22, auto inventor Preston Tucker is cleared of securities and fraud charges related to the failure of his attempt to build an innovative automobile.
From February 8 to February 9, federal courts uphold U.S. Justice Department suits against U.S. film companies, ordering them to separate production and distribution.
On March 1, Congress allocates $429 million for highway construction. Congress will increase...

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