Less than a month after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor the federal government’s War Production Board issued an order that all production of civilian cars and trucks must cease. The last official day was February 22, 1942 (Although the last Ford car for private use rolled off the assembly line on February 10th.)
Almost overnight the economy shifted to consumer goods to war production and by May of 1942 the U.S. Office of Price Administration froze prices on practically all everyday goods, starting with sugar and coffee. Soon those on the Homefront were organizing scrap drives, planting victory gardens, and learning to shop and cook around the limitations on rationing stamps.
