In Their Words - Examples of Rationing

Food

Example of food ration stamps

Rationing was first instituted for sugar in May 1942, giving each individual twelve ounces per week. Over the span of several years many other daily necessities were added to the list of rationed goods including coffee, which citizens were allotted a one-pound supply for five weeks. Other household items rationed include: cheese, meat, canned goods, butter and shoes. Gasoline was also a rationed commodity during The War Years. Automobile validation stamps allowed owners three gallons of gasoline per week. The Office of Price Administration fixed prices and rationed scarce commodities according to the supply and demand of the product. Between February 1943 and October 1945 residents could expect only one pair of shoes per year.

Not all food was rationed. Some common items that escaped rationing include: eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, dried and dehydrated fruits, fresh fish and shellfish, bread and grain cereals, macaroni and noodles, poultry and game.

Gasoline and Tires

Example of gas and tire ration coupons

Gasoline and tires were also rationed during The War. Vehicle owners were given a book with ration coupons entitling them to buy a specific quantity of gasoline to be used for “essential purposes.” Once all the coupons were used, no more gasoline could be purchased until the beginning of the next designated period. If Americans wanted to take a vacation they had to save enough ration coupons to cover the trip which could take quite some time. Americans were given gasoline rations based on the actual number of miles driven between work and home so there was little margin for waste. Tires were rationed as well making a tire in any condition a valuable commodity. Flat tires became an expected occurrence as tires and inner tubes were repaired and patched over and over again.

Many automobile owners found that the rewards of owning a vehicle were outweighed by the new restrictions placed on consumption of essential goods. Some vehicle owners chose to place their automobiles in long-term storage until the end of rationing. Others chose to sell their vehicles and to take advantage of an automobile shortage brought on by ceased domestic vehicle production between 1942-1946. No new models of automobiles were made available for public purchase during this time. All vehicles produced were primarily for military use. This caused used automobile prices to skyrocket and many vehicle owners capitalized, often selling their used vehicles for greatly inflated prices. In response, the Office of Price Administration instituted ceiling prices for every make and model, setting a new national price standard for selling used automobiles.

Clothing

By 1942, the strain on the supply of fabric used to make clothing had reached a critical level. The government decided clothing rations were necessary to maintain the war effort. Americans had to make do with what they already had hanging in the closet. This brought an upswing in reusing, repurposing and recycling clothing to meet the needs of growing children and their worn out clothes. Shoes were also rationed and had to be chosen carefully as they were expected to last at least one year. One noticeable exemption from clothing rations was hats. The sale of hats was never added to the long list of rationed items.