Title Graphic

Part IV. From Pearl Harbor to Normandy

STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF THE PERIOD1

(a) National Income and Expenditure


£ million
Percentages

1938
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1938
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1. National Income
4,707
6,978
7,562
8,115
8,310
8,355
100
100
100
100
100
100
2. National cost of consumers' goods and services
3,713
4,006
4,164
4,188
4,452
4,886
79
58
54
52
54
58
3. Government2 current expenditure:












    i. War
327
3,643
3,945
4,481
4,481
3,827
7
52
52
55
54
46
    ii Other
440
497
528
536
536
532
9
7
7
6
6
6
4. Net capital formation at home
297
-352
-322
-500
-500
-15
6
-5
-4
-5
-6

5. Net lending abroad
-70
-816
-663
-650
-659
-875
-1
-12
-9
-8
-8
-10
6. Net national expenditure at factor cost
4,707
6,978
7,652 8,115
8,310
8,355
100
100
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

--347--


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


£ million

1938
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1. Food
1,287
1,036
1,086
1,061
1,120
1,136
2. Alcoholic Beverages
285
287
267
270
274
297
3. Tobacco
177
196
206
204
205
225
4. Rent, rates and water charges
491
502
497
498
503
506
5. Fuel and light
197
205
199
187
193
198
6. Household goods
288
163
123
107
100
122
7. Clothing
446
275
273
247
275
279
8. Books, newspapers and magazines
64
61
63
67
73
77
9. Private motoring
127
30
17
8
8
25
10. Travel
163
148
174
186
188
215
11. Communication services
29
27
31
37
42
40
12. Entertainments
64
75
87
89
90
94
13. Other services
483
418
374
350
343
369
14. Other goods
177
131
109
110
113
120
15. Income in kind of the Armed Forces
17
98
106
136
152
146
16. Total of above items
4,295
3,652
3,612
3,557
3,679
3,849
17. Adjustment3
-7
19
28
34
27
72
18. Total
4,288
3,671
3,640
3,591
3,706
3,921
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
1941 December 87,800
1942 December
95,600
1943 December
82,400
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
1941
5,052
2,172 2,880 43
1942
5,457
2,635
2,822
48
1943
6,047
3,139
2,908
52
1944
6,078
3,328 2,750 55
1945
5,583
3,293
2,290
59
Source: Cmd. 7371 and Central Statistical Office

--348--


(e) Proportion of Personal Income Required to Meet Taxation


£ million

1938
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
Personal Income
4,884
6,508
7,200
7,721
8,072
8,411
Direct Tax Payments
439
770
879
1,145
1,328
1,394
Indirect Taxes on consumption
611
1,045
1,199
1,282
1,294
1,359
less Subsidies on consumption
-36
-137
-168
-188
-202
-249
Total tax payments out of personal income
1,014
1,678
1,910
2,239
2,420
2,504
Tax payments as a percentage of personal income
21
26
27
29
30
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
1941
Dec.
123-124
146
130
Year 1941=134
164
152
159
1942
Dec.
132
165
129
Year 1942=143
179
178
164
1943
Dec.
137–138
179
128
Year 1943=147
188
191
166
1944
Dec.
145-146
176
130
Year 1944=150
195
197
170
1945
June
148–149
180
132
Year 1945=153
N.A.
N.A.
173
1945
Dec.
152–153
174
131
195
194
173
N.A.=Not Available
Source: Central Statistical Office

--349--


2. MANPOWER

(a) Total Population of Great Britain



Thousands

1939
1941
1942
1943
1944
TOTAL
46,466
46,875
47,039
47,300
47,627
0-13
9,231
9,101
9,091
9,150
9,239
M. 14-64
31,923
32,245
32,259
32,285
32,386
F. 14-59
M. 65 and over
5,312
5,529
5,688
5,865
6,002
F. 60 and over
MALES
22,332
22,600
22,656
22,770
22,975
0-13
4,672
4,615
4,614
4,648
4,698
14-64
15,887
16,140
16,140
16,155
16,261
65 and over
1,773
1,845
1,901
1,367
2,016
FEMALES
24,134
24,275
24,383
24,530
24,652
0-13
4,559
4,486
4,477
4,502
4,541
14-59
16,036
16,105
16,119
16,130
16,125
60 and over
3,539
3,684
3,787
3,898
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.

--350--


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

(i)



Thousands

June 1939
June 1941
June 1942
June 1943
June 1944
June 1945
Working Population:






Total
19,570 21,332
22,056
22,286
22,008
21,649
Men
14,656 15,222
15,141
15,302
14,901
14,881
Women
5,094 6,110
6,915
7,254
7,107
6,768
Armed Forces:






Total
480 3,383
4,091
4,762
4,967
5,090
Men
480 3,278
3,784
4,300
4,500
4,653
Women
105
307
462
467
437
Civil Defence, N.F.S. and Police:






Total
80 383
384
323
282
127
Men
80 324
304
253
225
112
Women
59
80
70
57
15
Group I Industries:






Total
3,106 4,240
4,990
5,233
5,011
4,346
Men
2,600 3,140
3,285
3,305
3,180
2,891
Women
506 1,100
1,705
1,928
1,831
1,455
Group II Industries:






Total
4,683 4,845
4,983
5,027
5,100
5,191
Men
4,096 3,856
3,763
3,686
3,710
3,762
Women
587 989
1,220
1,341
1,390
1,429
Group III Industries:






Total
13,131
8,283.
7,520
6,861
6,574
6,752
Men
6,387
4,524
3,943
3,430
3,232
3,368
Women
3,744
3,759
3,577
3,431
3,342
3,384
Registered Insured Unemployed:






Total
1,270
198
87
60
54
103
Men
1,013
100
61
44
40
68
Women
257
98
26
16
14
35
Ex-Service men and women not yet in employment:






Total



20
20
40
Men



13
14
27
Women



7
6
13

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

--351--


(ii)



Thousands


Mid-1939
Mid-1943
Mid-1945
Total Labour Force
19,750
22,286
21,649
Armed forces and Civil Defence
560
5,085
5,217
Supplies and equipment for the Forces
1,270
5,121
3,830

Group I Industries
1,070
4,310
3,132

Group III Industries
200
811
698
Manufacturers for Export
9906
252
410

Group I Industries
450
90
200

Group III Industries
540
162
210
Manufacturers for the Home Market
5,555
2,373
2,580
Other Industries and Services
11,105
9,375
9,469
Unemployed
1,270
60
103
Ex-service not yet employed

20
40
Source: Central Statistical Office

3. SUPPLIES FROM ABROAD

(a) United Kingdom External Disinvestment

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







£ Million

1941
1942
1943
1944
Jan.–June 1945
Total Sept. 1939 to June 1945
Realisation of external capital assets
274
227
189
143
63
1,118
Increase in external liabilities7, 8
564
519
647
608
282
2,879
Decrease or increase (-) in gold and U.S. dollar reserves8, 9
-23
-75
-150
-99
-32
152
Unallocated
5
3
3
11
16
49
TOTAL
820
674
689
663
329
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.

--352--


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








$ million


1941 (March to Dec.) 1942
1943
1944
1945 (Jan.–Aug.)
Total March 1941-Aug. 1945
Ships (sail away)
65
195
1,078
540
229
2,107
Munitions destined for:







United Kingdom
86
987
2,797
3,807
971
8,648

Rest of Empire and other war theatres
100
1,158
2,131
2,294
1,203
6,886
Other goods destined for:







United Kingdom
576
1,404
1,782
2,405
21,275
7,442

Rest of Empire
10 227
436
583
390
1,646
Services
245 786
807
1,137
369
3,344
Total aid to British Empire
1,082
4,757
9,031
10,766
4,437
30,073
Aid to Russia
20
1,376
2,436
4,074
2,768
10,670
Aid to other countries





2,872
Total Lend-Lease Aid





43,615
Source: Central Statistical Office

(c) Comparison of Lend-Lease to the British Empire and Reciprocal Aid to the United States up to VJ-Day




In $ millions
In £ millions sterling



Lend-lease aid from U.S.
Reciprocal aid to U.S.
Lend-lease aid from U.S.
Reciprocal aid to U.S.
U.K.





Ships and construction
2,170
910
301
227

Military stores
13,823
2,014
1,975
288

Petroleum
1,85010
1,187
46210
297

Other goods
6,26310
361
1,56610
0

Services
2,980
1,195
745
299


TOTAL
27,023
5,667
5,049
1,201
Australia
1,570
1,041
296
216
New Zealand
271
248
52
54
South Africa
296
1
53
11
India
913
610
178
134


TOTAL
30,073
7,567
5,628
1,605

NOTE:
Conversion from dollars to pounds sterling and conversely at $7 to £1 for military stores (including ships) and at $4 to £1 for all other goods and services
Source: R. G. D. Allen, 'Mutual Aid between the U.S. and British Empire', Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Part III, 1946

--353--


(d) 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
470.8

98

1941
365.4

55

1942
391.4
271.3
52
36
1943
337.5
233.5
42
29
1944
328.3
266.3
38
31
1945
434.5
399.3
49
45

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

(e) Shipping

(i) Gains and losses of non-tankers on the British Register or on time charter to the United Kingdom

(1,600 gross tons and over)





Thousand gross tons


Gains
Losses
Net gains (+) or losses (-)
1941
1st Quarter
783
969
-186

2nd Quarter
733
1,264
-531

3rd Quarter
787
625
+162

4th Quarter
638
392
+246
1942
1st Quarter 546
826
-280

2nd Quarter 607
958
-351

3rd Quarter 822
1,363
-541

4th Quarter 626
1,374
-748
1943
1st Quarter 542
729
-187

2nd Quarter 643
548
+95

3rd Quarter 830
406
+424

4th Quarter 977
334
+643
1944
1st Quarter 703
242
+461

2nd Quarter 778
212
+566

3rd Quarter 375
352
+23

4th Quarter 431
211
+220

NOTE:
(1) Gains cover new construction, new charters, transfers, captures, etc.

(2) Losses cover enemy action, marine risk, termination of charter, transfer, etc.

(3) Figures of loss are given by date of notification and not by date of occurrence.

(4) The figures from the fourth quarter of 1943 onwards are not strictly comparable with the earlier figures.

(5) The figures in this table are not comparable with the figures in Table 3(d) of the statistical summary to Part III. There, the figures for gains and losses refer only to British registered tonnage

(6) It is important to realise that figures for gains are no guide to the postwar position as they include ships due to be returned after the war.

(7) For definition of gross tons and deadweight tons, see p. 80 above.
Source: Central Statistical Office

--354--


(ii) Gains and losses of tankers on the British Register, Allied and neutral tankers on time charter to the United Kingdom and other Allied tankers under the control of the Allied Governments12





Thousand deadweight tons


Gains
Losses Net Gain + or Loss -
1942
1st Quarter
62
598
-536

2nd Quarter 164
599
-435

3rd Quarter
117
344
-227

4th Quarter
130
278
-148
1943
1st Quarter 110
349
-239

2nd Quarter 95
132
-37

3rd Quarter 55
87
-32

4th Quarter 139
54
+85
1944
1st Quarter 199
82
+117

2nd Quarter 110
42
+68

3rd Quarter 69
72
-3

4th Quarter 96
30
+66
NOTE:
(1) Figures are given by date of notification and not by date of occurrence.

(2) The figures from the fourth quarter of 1943 onwards are not strictly comparable with the earlier figures.
Source: Central Statistical Office

(iii)Employment of non-tankers on the British Register or on time charter to the United Kingdom

(1,600 gross tons and over)







Thousand gross tons
End of Month

Allocated to the Fighting Services13
Coasting trade of U.K. and Eire
Trading between countries other than the U.K. and Eire
Repairing or damaged14, 15
Importing Services of U.K.16
Total14
1941
September
3,995
314
2,505
2,045
7,114
15,973
1941
December
4,341
373
2,677
2,041
6,787
16,219
1942
March
4,828
322
2,814
2,073
5,902
19,939

June
4,405
394
3,322
1,795
5,672
15,588

September
4,715
306
3,475
1,563
4,988
15,047

December
4,840
325
2,824
2,343
3,967
14,299
1943
March
4,591
309
2,158
2,070
4,984
14,112

June
4,829
260
2,406
1,512
5,200
14,207

September
4,709
317
3,289
1,500
4,816
14,631
Source: Central Statistical Office
The series of figures in the last table was discontinued after September 1943. The following table shows the employment figures analysed differently.
--355--

(iv) Non-tankers under British Control Analysis by Availability

(1,600 gross tons and over)











Thousand gross tons
End of month Vessels not engaged in or available for carrying cargoes to or from overseas countries Vessels carrying or available for carrying overseas cargoes civil or military TOTAL
Troopships
Other vessels wholly on fighting services17
Immobilised by damage repair, fitting, or reconditioning
Engaged on coasting or inter-coastal trade
Engaged in local operations
New vessels not yet allocated, etc.
Employment information incomplete
Total
1943
March
2,103
1,398
1,773
1,166
19
20
3,479
7,742
14,222

June
2,187
1,366
1,177
1,618
58
10
6,357
7,889
14,246

September
2,180
1,251
1,041
1,673
85
6
6,235
8,449
14,685

December
2,217
1,271
1,445
1,680
105
9
6,721
8,607
15,328
1944
March
2,313
1,305
1,043
2,089
141
2
6,893
8,896
15,789

June
2,292
1,406
1,251
1,229
1,844
136
12
8,171
8,158
16,355

September
2,245
1,308
1,247
1,279
1,671
151
2
9,903
8,475
16,378
Source: Ministry of War Transport

--356--


(f)Imports under Departmental Programmes

(excluding imports from Eire)







Million tons


Non-tanker imports
Tanker Imports18


Total
Ministry of Food
Ministry of Supply
Munitions and Miscellaneous
Quarterly average 1934-38
13.75
5.5
6.5
1.75
4.1
Quarterly average 1941
7.6
3.7
3.8
0.2
3.4
1942
1st Quarter
5.8
3.0
2.7
0.16
2.9

2nd Quarter
6.4
3.3
2.9
0.19
2.3

3rd Quarter
6.2
2.5
3.5
0.22
3.0

4th Quarter
4.6
1.9
2.5
0.20
2.8
1943
1st Quarter 4.4
2.0
2.2
0.26
2.7

2nd Quarter 7.2
3.4
3.2
0.59
3.8

3rd Quarter 7.8
3.2
3.9
0.68
5.2

4th Quarter 7.1
3.0
3.6
0.48
3.6
Quarterly average, 1944
6.3
2.7
2.9
0.60
5.1
Quarterly average, first half of 1945
6.2
2.9
2.9
0.43
5.0
Year 1941
30.5
14.7
15.0
0.78
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
Year 1944
25.1
11.0
11.8
2.4
20.5
Source: Central Statistical Office

--357--


(g) 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 Total19 Covered by import programme Petroleum Products Iron Ore20 Steel21 Timber22 Non-ferrous metals23 Wheat24 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
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

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
1942
March
9.0
6.3
2.6
13.7
12.0
6.7 2.1
2.4
2.4
0.9
1.1
0.8

June
6.6
6.3
0.3
13.4
11.8
5.9 2.1
2.3
2.1
0.8
1.5
0.8

September
12.8
6.0
6.8
14.1
12.2
5.8 2.2
2.5
2.1
0.8
1.3
0.7

December
13.7
5.7
8.1
13.0
11.2
5.3 2.0
2.2
2.1
0.7
1.1
0.7
1943
March 9.2
5.4
3.8
12.0
10.4
4.8 1.9
1.8
2.1
0.7
0.9
0.7

June 6.4
6.0
0.4
12.3
10.6
5.7 2.1
1.9
2.2
0.8
1.4
0.8

September 13.9
6.8
7.1
13.6
11.7
7.5
2.1
2.1
2.6
0.9
1.7
0.9

December 15.8
7.6
8.1
13.8
11.8
7.5
2.1
2.2
2.8
0.9
1.6
0.8
1944
June 7.9
7.0
0.3
12.8
11.0
7.2
2.1
1.9
2.4
1.0
1.6
0.9

December 15.0
7.1
7.9
12.1
10.3
6.5
1.6
1.7
2.3
1.1
1.4
0.8
1945
June 6.5
6.1
0.4
11.0
9.3
4.9
1.9
1.3
1.8
1.0
1.4
0.5
Source: Central Statistical Office

--358--


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Footnotes

1 See note at beginning of first statistical summary, p. 75. The present summary covers the period from Pearl Harbor to the end of the war, instead of simply to D-Day

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

3 The figures relate as far as possible to expenditure met out of personal income including that of charities and other non-profit-making bodies as well as of individuals. The figures for individual categories relate to purchases in this country even when made by Dominion and Allied troops. On the other hand, they do not include consumers' expenditure abroad and out of British personal 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 In addition, it is estimated that in 1939 160,000 workers were producing coal for export; in 1943 to 1945, the number was about 12,000.

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

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 Approximate division between petroleum and other goods.

11 Less than £0.5 million.

12 i.e. tankers under the control of the Belgian, Dutch, Greek and Norwegian Governments.

13 Excluding vessels under repair other than naval commissioned vessels. A part of the tonnage in this column brought commercial cargoes to the United Kingdom on completion of the outward voyage (see note 18).

14 Including a small tonnage allocated but not yet delivered.

15 This column includes all vessels other than naval commissioned vessels out of employment.

16 This column includes vessels which brought imports to the United Kingdom but which were allocated on the outward voyage to the fighting Services or which had previously been trading between countries other than the United Kingdom and Eire. In addition to the figures in this column, certain of the vessels still under allocation to the fighting services for the homeward voyage were bring imports to the United Kingdom.

17 Including those under repair.

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

19 Excluding consumers' stocks of steel.

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

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

22 Softwoods, hardwoods, pitwood and constructional plywood.

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

24 Including dilution grains from December 1942 to December 1944.


Transcribed and formatted for HTML by David Newton, HyperWar Foundation