Title Graphic

Part III. From Dunkirk to Pearl Harbor

STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF THE PERIOD1

1. NATIONAL FINANCE

(a) National Income and Expenditure


£ million
Percentages

1938
1940
1941
1944
1938
1940
1941
1944
1. National Income
4,707
6,066
6,978
8,310
100
100
100
100
2. National cost of consumers' goods and services
3,713
3,931
4,006
4,452
79
65
58
54
3. Government current2 expenditure:








    i. War
327
2,600
3,643
4,481
7
8
52
54
    ii Other
440
484
497
536
9
43
7
6
4. Net capital formation at home
297
-145
-352
-500
6
-3
-5
-6
5. Net lending abroad
-70
-804
-816
-659
-1
-13
-12
-8
6. Net national expenditure at factor cost
4,707
6,066
6,978
8,310
100
100
100
100
Figures for national income and expenditure are net in that they exclude sums allowed for depreciation and maintenance and are at factor cost in that they include subsidies but exclude indirect taxes.
Source: Cmd. 7371 and Central Statistical Office

--199--


(b) Personal Expenditure on Consumers' Goods and Services at 1938 Prices


£ million

1938
1940
1941
1944
1. Food
1,287
1,138
1,036
1,120
2. Alcoholic Beverages
285
276
287
274
3. Tobacco
177
178
196
205
4. Rent, rates and water charges
491
508
502
503
5. Fuel and light
197
202
205
193
6. Household goods
288
216
163
100
7. Clothing
446
372
275
275
8. Books, newspapers and magazines
64
59
61
73
9. Private motoring
127
38
30
8
10. Travel
163
132
148
188
11. Communication services
29
27
27
42
12. Entertainments
64
53
75
90
13. Other services
483
438
418
343
14. Other goods
177
162
131
113
15. Income in kind of the Armed Forces
17
67
98
152
16. Total of above items
4,295
3,866
3,652
3,679
17. Adjustment3
-7
17
19
27
18. Total
4,288
3,883
3,671
3,706
Source: Cmd. 7371 and Central Statistical Office

(c) Average Weekly Government War Expenditure: Exchequer Issues of Defence and Vote of Credit Expenditure


£ million
1939 December 29,600
1940 May 35,500
1940 June 51,800
1940 December 70,600
1941 June 68,800
1941 December 87,800
1944 December
91,100
Source: Central Statistical Office

(d) Central Government Expenditure, Revenue and Borrowing


£ million

Calendar Years
Expenditure
Revenue
Borrowing
Revenue as percentage of expenditure
1938
1,040
893 147 86
1940
3,584
1,397 2,187 39
1941
5,052
2,172 2,880 43
1944
6,078
3,328 2,750 55
Source: Cmd. 7371 and Central Statistical Office

--200--


(e) Proportion of Personal Income Required to Meet Taxation




£ million

1938
1940
1941
1944
Personal Income
4,884
5,823
6,508
8,072
Direct Tax Payments
439
585
770
1,328
Indirect Taxes on consumption
611
808
1,045
1,294
less Subsidies on consumption
-36
-88
-137
-202
Total tax payments out of personal income
1,014
1,305
1,678
2,420
Tax payments as a percentage of personal income
21
22
26
30

NOTE:
The rise in the proportion of tax payments to personal income was not all due to increases in rates of taxation; it also reflected the increased consumption of highly taxed goods and services—beer,tobacco, entertainments.
Source: Cmd. 7371 and Central Statistical Office

(f) Prices and Wages



Weekly wage rates: estimated increase in all industries4 Sept 1, 1939=100
Average weekly earnings in certain industries5 Oct. 1938=100
Cost of living Sept. 1, 1939=100
Price index of total consumers' expenditure 1938=100
Import prices Aug. 1939=100
Export prices Aug. 1939=100
Wholesale prices Aug. 1939=100
1939
Sept.
100

100



108
1940
June
109-110
130
117
Year 1940=120
148
121
137

Dec.
115

126
153
132
151
1941
March
119

127
Year 1941=134
158
135
154

June
120
142
129
159
139
155

Sept.
123

128
162
143
157

Dec.
123-124
146
130
163
149
159
1944
Dec.
145-146
176
130
Year 1944=150
See Note 6
See Note 6
170
Source: Central Statistical Office

--201--


2. MANPOWER

(a) Total Population of Great Britain




Thousands

1939
1940
1941
1944
TOTAL
46,466
46,889
46,875
47,627
0-13
9,231
9,187
9,101
9,239
M. 14-64
31,923
32,231
32,245
32,386
F. 14-59
M. 65 and over
5,312
5,421
5,529
6,002
F. 60 and over
MALES
22,332
22,632
22,600
22,975
0-13
4,672
4,656
4,615
4,698
14-64
15,887
16,168
16,140
16,261
65 and over
1,773
1,808
1,845
2,016
FEMALES
24,134
24,257
24,275
24,652
0-13
4,559
4,531
4,486
4,541
14-59
16,036
16,113
16,105
16,125
60 and over
3,539
3,613
3,684
3,986

NOTE:
(1) The figures have been given for Great Britain only, to correspond as closely as possible with the tables given elsewhere showing the distribution of manpower by industry. It should be noted however that in the manpower tables the figures for the Armed Forces include an unknown number of recruits from outside Great Britain (mainly from Northern Ireland and Eire) who are not included in the total population figures above.

(2) The figures for 1939 exclude men serving overseas in the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy (estimated at between 200,000 and 250,000). From 1940 onwards all members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy are included, whether at home or overseas. Prisoners of war in enemy hands are included in 1944, but are mainly excluded from earlier figures.
Source: Central Statistical Office

--202--


(b) Distribution of Labour Force of Working Age in Great Britain





Thousands

June 1939
June 1940
June 1941
June 1943
Working Population:




Total
19,570 20,676
21,332
22,286
Men
14,656 15,104
15,222
15,302
Women
5,094 5,572
6,110
7,254
Armed Forces:




Total
480 2,273
3,383
4,762
Men
480 2,218
3,278
4,300
Women
55
105
462
Civil Defence, N.F.S. and Police:




Total
80 3454
383
323
Men
80 292
324
253
Women
53
59
70
Group I Industries:




Total
3,106 3,559
4,240
5,233
Men
2,600 2,885
3,140
3,305
Women
506 674
1,100
1,928
Group II Industries:




Total
4,683 4,618
4,845
5,027
Men
4,096 3,902
3,856
3,686
Women
587 716
989
1,341
Group III Industries:




Total
13,131
9,236
8,283.
6,861
Men
6,387
5,373
4,524
3,430
Women
3,744
3,863
3,759
3,431
Registered Insured Unemployed:




Total
1,270
645
198
60
Men
1,013
434
100
44
Women
257
211
98
16
Ex-Service men and women not yet in employment:




Total



20
Men



13
Women



7

NOTE:
(1) The figures include men aged 14-64 and women aged 14-59, excluding those in private domestic service. Part-time women workers are included, two being counted as one unit. The figures refer to Great Britain only except for the Armed Forces, which include an unknown number of volunteers from Northern Ireland, Eire, etc.

(2) Group I covers metal manufacture, engineering, motors, aircraft and other vehicles, shipbuilding and ship-repairing, metal goods manufacture, chemicals, explosives, oils etc.

Group II covers agriculture, mining, national and local government services, gas, water and electricity supply, transport and shipping.

Group III covers food, drink and tobacco, textiles ,clothing and other manufactures, building and civil engineering, distribution trades, commerce, banking and other services.
Source: Ministry of Labour and National Service and Central Statistical Office

--203--


3. SUPPLIES FROM ABROAD

(a) United Kingdom External Disinvestment

(as far as recorded: probably an under-estimate)



£ Million

1940 1941
Total Sept. 1939 to June 1945
Realisation of external capital assets7,8
194
274
1,118
Increase in external liabilities
179
564
2,879
Decrease or increase (-) in gold and U.S. dollar reserves8, 9
474
-23
152
Unallocated
-6
5
49
TOTAL
811
820
4,198

NOTE:
The figures given in the above table are those given in Cmd. 6707 and are the only ones at present available. The totals given in Cmd. 7099 for the years 1940-1945 are however slightly smaller so that the figures in the table will need slight adjustments throughout.

(b) United States Lend-Lease to the British Empire




$ million


1941 (March to December) Total March 1941-Aug. 1945
Ships (sail away)
65
2,107

Munitions destined for:


United Kingdom 86
8,648
Rest of Empire and other war theatres
100
6,886
Other goods destined for:



United Kingdom 576
7,442

Rest of Empire 10
1,646
Services
245
3,344
Total aid to British Empire
1,082
30,073
Aid to other countries
20
2,872
Source: Central Statistical Office

--204--


(c) Export and Produce and Manufacture of the United Kingdom



Value as recorded £ million
Index of volume 1935=100


Including Munitions
Excluding Munitions
Including Munitions
Excluding Munitions
1938
Quarterly average 117.7

98

1940
2nd Quarter
129.8

91


3rd Quarter
93.9

63


4th Quarter
67.6

44

1941
1st Quarter
79.7

50


2nd Quarter
81.2

51


3rd Quarter
85.8

52


4th Quarter
118.7

69

1944
Quarterly average
82.1
66.6
38
31

NOTE:
(1)As the figures up to the end of 1941 do not show munitions separately, it is impossible to get comparable figures.

(2) The index of volume is calculated on quantities revalued at 1935 prices and expressed as a percentage of the quarterly average in 1935.
Source: Board of Trade

(d) Shipping Gains and Losses

Gains and Losses of British Flag Tonnage 1,600 g.t. and over

(gross tonnage figures in thousands)



Gains
Losses
Net Gain + or Loss -


Non-Tankers
Tankers
Non-Tankers
Tankers
Non-Tankers
Tankers
Quarterly average for first nine months of war
283
47
264
58
+19
-11
1940
3rd Quarter
652
65
726
166
-74
+101

4th Quarter
438
29
868
88
-430
-59
1941
1st Quarter
490
68
802
170
-312
-102

2nd Quarter
351
78
1,028
199
-677
-121

3rd Quarter
452
154
465
40
-13
+114

4th Quarter
401
102
296
79
+105
+23
Total for 1941
1,694
402
2,591
488
-897
-86
Total for1942
1,834
277
3,341
693
-1,507
-416
Total for1943
2,784
273
1,609
217
+1,175
+56

NOTE:
(1) Gains cover new vessels and acquisition of foreign tonnages.

(2) Losses cover war and marine losses, captives and miscellaneous.

(3) It is important to realise that:
  1. Figures of gains are no guide to the post-war shipping position since they include ships due to be returned after the war.
  2. Figures of gains and losses give only the very crudest guide to the shipping position. Carrying capacity per million tons of shipping is equally important but this must necessarily be discussed in the text.

(4) For definition of gross tons and deadweight tons see p.80 above.
Source: Ministry of Transport

--205--


(e) Imports

Imports under Departmental Programmes

(excluding imports from Eire)







Million tons


Non-tanker imports



Total
Ministry of Food
Ministry of Supply
Munitions and Miscellaneous
Tanker Imports10
Quarterly average 1934-38
13.75
5.5
6.5
1.75
4.1
Quarterly average October 1939 to end of June 1940
11.3
5.5
5.5
0.3
3.2
1940
3rd Quarter
10.3
4.3
5.8
0.2
2.7

4th Quarter
8.4
3.2
5.0
0.1
2.6
1941
1st Quarter
7.0
3.1
3.7
0.11
2.3

2nd Quarter
7.9
3.9
3.7
0.24
3.3

3rd Quarter
8.2
4.2
3.8
0.21
4.4

4th Quarter
7.8
3.5
4.0
0.23
4.0
Year 1941
30.5
14.7
15.0
0.8
13.6
Year 1942
22.9
10.6
11.5
0.8
10.7
Year 1943
26.4
11.5
12.8
2.0
15.1
Source: Central Statistical Office

--206--


(f) Stocks of Food and Raw Materials in the United Kingdom














Million tons


Food and animal feeding stuffs
Raw materials

Principal commodities
End of month
Total Stocks other than farms Stocks on farms Total11 Covered by import programme Petroleum Products Iron Ore12 Steel13 Timber14 Non-ferrous metals15 Wheat Flour
Beginning of war
10.53
3.74
6.79
13.1 11.8
6.73
2.4
1.0
3.90
0.7
1.03
0.27
1939
December 7.49
3.81
3.68
12.18
10.68
5.78
1.87
0.79
3.44
0.72
0.83
0.31
1940
June
5.52
4.07
1.46
11.03
9.65
5.77
1.76
0.79
2.90
0.67
1.11
0.50

December
10.63
5.14
5.49
14.45
12.54
5.36
2.03
1.71
4.11
0.81
1.30
0.70
1941
March
6.9
4.5
2.4
13.9
12.2
4.6
1.7
2.0
4.0
0.8
1.0
0.6

June
5.2
5.0
0.2
13.8
12.3
4.7
1.9
2.2
3.5
0.8
1..6
0.7

September
11.6
5.7
5.9
14.4
12.8
6.0
2.0
2.5
3.3
0.8
1.7
0.9

December
13.39
6.38
7.01
14.67
12.89
7.04
2.12
2.65
2.95
0.88
1.37
0.86
Source: Central Statistical Office

--207--


Contents  *  Previous Chapter (VII)  *  Next Chapter (VIII)


Footnotes

1 See note at beginning of first statistical summary, p. 75.

2 i.e.. local government and national insurance funds as well as central government.

3 The adjustment is to convert the total in line 16 to a total of purchases out of British income.

4 Some small industries are omitted. Figures for wage rates relate to the end of the previous month in order to make them comparable with the cost of living index, which relates to the beginning of the month mentioned.

5 The figures represent the average earning, including bonus, overtime, etc. and before deduction of income tax or insurance, in one week, in January and July of each year. Administrative and clerical workers and other salaried persons are excluded.

6 There are no comparable figures in this series after 1941.

7 Comprising banking liabilities less assets, and funds held in the United Kingdom as cover for overseas currencies.

8 After deduction of outstanding liabilities to provide gold against sterling liabilities and of liabilities to convert U.S.A. holdings of sterling into dollars on demand.

9 Gold valued at 172s. 3d. per ounce fine and dollars at £1=$4.03.

10 Petroleum products, molasses, unrefined whale oil, industrial alcohol, and, from January 1943, acetone.

11 Excluding consumers' stocks of steel.

12 Including home produced iron-ore at the imported equivalent.

13 At producers' works and in British Iron and Steel Corporation stockyards, including material in transit. Consumers' stocks are excluded.

14 Softwoods, hardwoods, pitwood and constructional plywood.

15 Copper, zinc, zinc concentrates, lead, tin, nickel, bauxite.



Transcribed and formatted for HTML by David Newton, HyperWar Foundation