The%201950s:

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The 1950s

• From growth to Affluence

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Gross National Product (1945-1960)
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What could have caused this?
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During WWII
After WWII

• Americans saved billions due to rationing,
  shortages, etc.
• Factories that once produced consumer goods like
  lipsticks had turned to producing war goods

• Factories returned to producing consumer goods
• Americans had money to spend
• Americans wanted to shop
• In return, businesses began producing more

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Real Income

• The amount of goods and services your income or
  salary will buy, regardless of inflation.
• By the 1950s, the average American made double
  what they did in the 1920s.

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Malls!

• Before the 1950s, most American shopped in the
  main street or downtown shopping area.
• In the 1950s, suburban shopping centers (malls)
  began springing up.

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• Why do you think they grew in number at this
  point in time?

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Likes

• Easy parking
• Wide variety of shops
• Air-conditioned

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Consumer Spending

• In the 1920s, we had installment buying.
• The 1950s, brought two new changed to credit
• First, the Charge Card
• Buy now, pay later
• Works at only the store that gave it to you
• Second, the Credit Card
• buy now, pay later
• You can shop in a variety of locations

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Planned Obsolescence

• The desire to own something a little newer, a
  little better, a little sooner than necessary.
• Aim to make items that are still usable look
  obsolete or out of date

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From goods to services

• Before the war
• Businesses were usually manufacturing industries
• They built goods such as appliances and cars
• After the war
• Businesses turned their focus to providing
  services
• They provided people with a services such as
  quick, cheap, and tasty food (think fast food
  restaurants)

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Franchise

• An agreement to operate a business that carries a
  companys name and sells its products.

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From blue collar to white collar

• At the beginning of the 1950s, most jobs were
  blue collar or jobs such as working in factories
  or skilled trades such as plumbing or auto
  repair.
• Hourly pay
• By the end of the 1950s, most jobs were white
  collar or professional jobs such as doctors,
  lawyers, engineers, salespeople, managers, office
  staff
• Weekly, yearly pay