Because of war production there was a tremendous demand for labor and as a result, people who were unemployed during the Great Depression easily found jobs in war industries. As more men were drafted into the service women replaced men on the assembly lines (Rosie the Riveter). You had employed people with incomes and extreme shortages of goods thus the law of supply and demand went into action and prices began to rise. Inflation!

rationing means products, like food and material to make ammunition and machinery for the war, were rationed. in the usa, people had ration books…they contained stamps which were used, along with money, to purchase scarce commodities. when your stamps on any given item were used, that was it until the next ration book was given out. cigarettes, for example, were sent to the soldiers, so citizens at home who were smokers were allowed only limited packs of cigarettes per month (there were ration stamps for this). many people started rolling their own cigarettes at this time.

when you have widespread unemployment and severe economic decline, you’ll have inflation, and prices go up to often unreasonable levels.

there are many good books on ww2…check with your local library.