(NewsNation) — As the Trump administration ends penny production, some businesses are bracing to be shortchanged.
In May, the U.S. Mint placed its final order for penny blanks, marking the last batch in penny production. Love’s, the network of travel stops and gas stations, said it’s already feeling the pressure from this new type of penny pinching, with its vaults running low. The company said it hadn’t expected to encounter a penny shortage until late 2026.
Some Love’s stores have started rounding up change to help customers. About 50 of the company’s 660-plus locations across 42 states are affected and the number is growing, according to the director of operations. But it’s not just Love’s. From gas stations to grocery checkouts, retailers nationwide say the coin crunch is worsening. Customers may notice totals being rounded up or down.
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The National Association of Convenience Stores warns the industry will need help from the government, noting that it is “advocating for federal legislation to allow the rounding of cash transactions.”
