Thursday, May 5, 1988 · London, England
The world the day Adele was born
Adele, the singer, arrived on a Thursday in London, England. This is what was on the radio, in the sky and on the price tags that day.
#1 that week
“Where Do Broken Hearts Go”
Whitney Houston
The moon
waning gibbous
Star sign
♉ Taurus
Year of the Dragon
U.S. president
Ronald Reagan
On every radio
The song at #1 the week Adele was born
“Where Do Broken Hearts Go” by Whitney Houston topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks, taking over from “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car”.
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Cost of living
What things cost in 1988
U.S. averages for the year Adele was born, next to the latest figures (Sep 2026).
- Gallon of gas95¢ → $4.48 today (4.7×)
- Loaf of white bread61¢ → $1.83 today (3.0×)
- Dozen eggs79¢ → $2.27 today (2.9×)
- Pound of coffee$2.77 → $9.33 today (3.4×)
- Postage stamp25¢ → 78¢ today (3.1×)
In the news
The year 1988
- Jun 1 · The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was ratified, banning all American and Soviet land-based missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 km (310 to 3,420 mi).
- Jun 4 · Three cars on a train carrying hexogen to Kazakhstan explode in Arzamas, Gorky Oblast, USSR, killing 91 and injuring about 1,500.
- Jul 3 · The US Navy warship Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard.
- Jul 6 · The Piper Alpha drilling platform in the North Sea is destroyed by explosions and fires. One hundred sixty-seven oil workers are killed, making it the world's worst offshore oil disaster in terms of direct loss of life.
- Aug 20 · Iran–Iraq War: A ceasefire is agreed after almost eight years of war.
Born around the same time
Adele shares a birth year with…
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Questions
When was Adele born?
Adele was born on Thursday, May 5, 1988, in London, England.
What day of the week was Adele born?
A Thursday. May 5, 1988 fell on a Thursday.
What was the #1 song when Adele was born?
“Where Do Broken Hearts Go” by Whitney Houston was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 the week Adele was born. It spent 2 weeks at #1.
What is Adele’s zodiac sign?
Adele is a Taurus (born May 5), and was born in the Chinese year of the Dragon.
What was the moon like when Adele was born?
A waning gibbous moon, about 83% lit, on the night of May 5, 1988.
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