Fri, 31 Oct 2025

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 Businesses are running out of pennies in the US

Find a penny, pick it up, then what? Now the US has stopped making pennies, a shortage has emerged and created confusion.
US businesses are struggling due to a severe shortage of pennies, which has been exacerbated by the Trump administration's decision to stop minting one-cent coins earlier this year. As a result, many stores are now rounding their cash sales down to the nearest five cents, as there is no federal guidance on how to proceed. The National Retail Federation says that this has led to "unsustainable" losses for businesses, with some companies estimating they will lose up to four cents per transaction. The shortage has also affected convenience stores, which are now urging customers to pay in exact change or bringing in extra pennies. Some retailers have resorted to hosting promotions to encourage customers to donate spare pennies, while others are opting to round down prices to avoid customer complaints and potential lawsuits. However, critics argue that this will disproportionately affect lower-income individuals who rely on cash payments. The Treasury Department had estimated that shortages would start in 2026, but the issue has arisen much sooner. Mark Weller, executive director of Americans for Common Cents, argues that the government savings from not producing pennies will be offset by the need for more nickels, which are more expensive to make than pennies. As the shortage continues, there is growing demand for federal guidance on how businesses and shoppers should navigate the issue.
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