How U.S. residents lived with rationing during World War II

When the U.S. entered World War II in December 1941, virtually every American became part of the war effort in some way. More than 16 million Americans served in the military, millions of civilians produced materials for the war, and everyone had to live with rationing.

From 1942 to 1945, Americans had to find creative ways to live with government rationing of critical products including medicine, food, tires, gasoline and sugar.

The Office of Price Administration was established in August 1941, and the agency was responsible for managing rationing and controlling prices during the war. This emergency agency was created before the U.S. entered the war as a pre-emptive way to manage the looming global supply chain crisis.

Rationing coupon books for nearly all critical items were distribu