~Flashback 2002~

Economics

Federal spending: $2,011 billion
Federal debt: $6,228 billion
Consumer Price Index: 179.9
Unemployment: 5.8 %
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.37


Kenneth L. Lay, chairman of bankrupt energy trader Enron, resigns; company under federal investigation for hiding debt and misrepresenting earnings (Jan. 24). Background: 2002 News of the Nation

Pennsylvania miners rescued after spending 77 hours in a dark, flooded mine shaft (July 28).

Snipers prey upon DC suburbs, killing ten and wounding others (Oct. 2–24). Police arrest two sniper suspects, John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo (Oct. 24).

The movie Spider-Man was the year's box-office blockbuster, grossing more than $406 million. In all, Americans spent $9.3 billion on about 1.6 billion movie tickets in 2002—a 10% increase over 2001 figures (Dec. 31).

Movies

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding
• About Schmidt
• Far From Heaven
• Adaptation
• The Hours
• Chicago
• Gangs of New York

Books

• Atonement, Ian McEwan
• Emperor of Ocean Park, Stephen L. Carter
• The Crimson Petal and the White, Michael Faber
• Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold
• The Nanny Diaries, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

What were YOU doing in 2002?