Prior to 1946, fear and economic uncertainty caused by the Great Depression and World War II had convinced many Americans to delay getting married or having children. After the war, with the encouragement of a strong postwar economy and the financial aid offered by the GI Bill, there was an unprecedented population boom in the United States. From 1946 to 1964, 75 million babies were born, a generation known today as the baby boomers. This population growth eventually strengthened the American economy and labor market. The demand for housing increased as parents seeking bigger homes and more space flocked to the suburbs. The need for schools and shopping malls also increased. As the baby boomers grew up, so did their demand for consumer goods.