The Home Front Pledges and Price Ceilings during World War II

During World War II, 20 million housewives signed home front pledges to not pay more than government price ceilings. Violators could be fined if someone registered a complaint. Volunteers on local community boards, known as OPA's, would report complaints and enforce price regulations. While rations meant people often went without certain goods, more people overall were able to get what they needed. The bottom proportion of the population saw an increase in protein consumption compared to the top.