These sources said the electric power shortage was the most obvious of Japan's economic difficulties, but others were noticed, including the rising of living costs by nearly one-third since the of the "China Incident", and the reduction in Japan's gold and dollar exchange holdings. Also, they said, the mandatory 20 per cent, reduction in beer production, the virtual rationing of gasoline and some similar products, and the great reliance on native silk or synthetic fibres for clothing instead of the customary cotton, were other difficulties Japan faces.
Japanese cotton spinning, they said, has been reduced 45 per cent. in Osaka and vicinity because of the power shortage.
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