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Show I nflstiocr Effects Returning Vets Service men returning from overseas know something of the danger of runaway prices, announces an-nounces the O. P. A. They have seen a pack of Camels sell for $50 in Africa, a fountain Den for S200'in France, and a toothbrush for S2500 in China. One service man writes "If a Chinese coolie saved all ,of his wages for two whole months, he would have almost enough to buy a cheap alarm clock." Coming back to a country starting on a "Boom and Bust" cycle of inflation and depression would be a pretty poor reward for the men who won the war. Although the cost of living has been held amazingly amazing-ly well, notwithstanding the greatest buying pressure in the history of the nation, the prices of homes reflect a dangerous degree de-gree of inflation. There is a pressing need for homes. During the next 12-month period, more than 3V6 million married vetrans will be released from the armed forces. In addition, addi-tion, it is estimated that during the same period 1V$ million veterans vet-erans will marry. Nearly all of these former servicemen will be looking for a home in which to live. But these men and women may be forced to pay 50 to 100 Dercent more than homes are normally worth, warns O. P. A. One veteran writes "My wife and I together have saved nearly $3,000. As soon as I am discharg- l ed we want to build a home. I hope that the O. P. A. is going to hold prices down so that we can realize our plans." A sergeant ser-geant stationed at Pearl Harbor reports "I am going back lo college. col-lege. . . if you folks don't keen prices down, the $5,0 a month education allowance isn't going to help much." Another one remarks re-marks that the encouragement given by the GI BPl of Rights to soldiers to purchase their l homes doesn't amount to much when the service man has to pay double what homes should nor- I mally cost. |