4. Of the other items in the Index (rents being already stabilised) far the biggest is Clothing, and clothing prices had risen between the outbreak of war and 1st April, 1941 by 70%, the effect being to raise the number of points in the total Index accounted for by clothing from 25 at the outbreak of war to 45. It was evident that, in order to complete the control of the Index, it was necessary to stop the continuing rise in clothing prices and, if possible, to bring about a reduction. 5. Much was hoped from the introduction of the Clothes Rationing Scheme in June, which it was thought would create the conditions of a buyer's market and so supplement the operation of the new Goods and Services (Price Control) Act.