Imagine going to pay for your $5.17 drink: you pay $5.20, but get told you can’t get your pennies back, which makes your change fall short. What would you do? Those are your three cents! This has been a recent issue in the United States and is affecting many businesses, both locally and nationally.
In 2025, the United States Treasury Department, led by Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, made the decision to stop producing pennies. This is due to the fact that pennies cost more to produce than they are actually worth. The production of the penny costs 3.7 cents but only is worth 1 cent.
Some may think that losing a penny isn’t that big of a deal, since it’s only one cent. However, just as many think it is a big deal, because those pennies can add up to dollars. Companies have the choice to round up or down, in order to give you your change back. According to an article by Greg Garrison, gas stations and convenience stores are most negatively affected since people tend to use cash there. Due to this outcome, people will not be able to get the right amount of change back, which is upsetting the customers and the business. Solutions to the problem have been to use non-cash methods, which is a headache for some people.
Not only is this issue affecting customers, but also businesses. Some businesses are requiring customers to use electronic payment methods. In the same article by Gerald Harris, it mentions that 14% of the American public use cash on a regular basis for payment settlement. As the penny shortage is spreading, many have to transition into using electronic payment methods, which can be very inconvenient.
This penny shortage also has an impact on employees. Reese Doherty, a worker at Dunkin’, said the penny shortage is affecting her work life because it has changed the way she has to deal with money. The management at her job has enforced rounding up ever since the penny dilemma and workers have had to adapt to this ongoing situation. While talking to some customers, they have expressed that each business has their own regulations when dealing with the penny shortage, saying some round down and others round up. Jennifer Hernandez, a customer that regularly comes to Dunkin’, recently said, “The penny shortage has been an adjustment for me, but I can get used to it.” This gives hope that everyone can get used to this new change.
This penny shortage issue has been different for everyone, but with everyone’s cooperation, it will ultimately save money.
