The End of the Penny: Impact on Shoppers, Retailers, and States

The U.S. penny shortage, accelerated by the end of penny production, is causing widespread retail disruptions, increased operational costs, and legal challenges due to rounding issues, especially during the busy holiday shopping season, with significant impacts on low-income and older Americans. Retailers are adapting by posting signs, retraining staff, and implementing tech fixes, but the lack of federal rounding rules risks legal and compliance problems.