Animated titles introduce "McGregor and West". Part of the PALS! issue.

London, probably Pathe Studio.

Funny item about the changes between peacetime and wartime shopping.

1938.
An old woman (played by a man) enters a set of a grocer's shop and sits down. The grocer is most eager to please and takes the woman's order, bending over backwards to fulfil it to her exact specifications. He gives her sweets and chocolates for her children and says she can settle the bill "sometime next year".

1942.
The same woman enters the shop - shelves are now completely bare and the grocer sits behind the counter, reading a newspaper. When the woman asks "Have you any..." the grocer snaps back "No! ...whatever you ask for we haven't got!". He deals with her in a very rude and bad-tempered manner, saying he's only got one egg and he is keeping that for himself. When the woman asks for onions, he tells her to get out of the shop and she leaves.

A young woman (called Madge) in a fur jacket walks on and talks to the grocer - she seems to have been blackmailing him, threatening to tell all about what they have been to each other. He ends up giving her the last packet of cigarettes he has from under the counter.

Note: alternative spelling - MacGregor.