Lead: On November 12, 2025, the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia struck the final circulating penny after a presidential directive earlier this year asked the Treasury to stop producing new one-cent coins. Major U.S. chains told CBS News they are already adapting: some stores are rounding cash totals to the nearest five cents, others are asking customers for exact change or encouraging digital payments. The moves aim to manage a practical shortage of pennies while keeping card and digital transactions unchanged.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Mint pressed its last circulating penny on November 12, 2025, after a directive to stop minting new one-cent coins.
- McDonald’s is rounding some cash transactions to the nearest 5 cents; example: $10.22 becomes $10.20, $10.23 becomes $10.25.
- Wendy’s advised restaurants to round cash payments down to the nearest nickel when pennies are unavailable; digital and card payments are unaffected.
- Kroger will continue to accept pennies but asks shoppers to provide exact change where possible.
- Convenience chains Kwik Trip and Sheetz are promoting cashless payments; Kwik Trip is rounding down to the nearest nickel in affected stores.
- Giant Eagle ran a one-day promotion exchanging pennies for double-value gift cards to gather coins for making exact change.
- GoTo Foods (Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Jamba, Carvel) recommends franchisees round cash transactions in the customer’s favor.
Background
The penny has been legal tender in the United States since the late 18th century, but its production has become increasingly costly. In 2025 the Treasury — at the direction of President Trump — moved to stop producing new circulating one-cent coins, citing the higher cost to mint each penny compared with its face value. The final circulating penny was produced on November 12, 2025, at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.
Retailers and payment processors have long adapted to small-change challenges with practices ranging from coin-exchange events to rounding rules in other currencies. U.S. businesses now face an operational decision: accept fewer pennies and adopt rounding, encourage electronic payments, or run localized programs to collect coins. Stakeholders include national chains, franchise owners, cash-centric consumers and banks that handle coin distribution.
Main Event
CBS News contacted several major chains to ask how they will handle fewer pennies in circulation. McDonald’s said that, at some locations, cash-paying customers may not receive exact change because pennies are scarce; those stores will round cash totals to the nearest five cents. The company clarified that card and digital methods will not be affected.
Wendy’s issued guidance allowing restaurants to round cash transactions down to the nearest nickel when they face penny shortages, again stressing that non-cash payments remain unchanged. GoTo Foods, owner of Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Jamba and Carvel, recommended franchisees round transactions in the customer’s favor, an operational choice intended to preserve goodwill.
Kroger requested that customers try to provide exact change if paying with cash and confirmed it will continue to accept pennies. Kwik Trip said it will round cash payments down to the nearest nickel at affected locations. Sheetz encouraged cashless payments and ran a separate promotion exchanging a dollar of pennies for a free drink in one store.
Giant Eagle in Pennsylvania held a one-day exchange allowing customers to turn in pennies for gift cards worth twice the coins’ face value; the chain said the program was intended to collect pennies to make exact change for cash customers while awaiting formal government guidance on rounding practices.
Analysis & Implications
Operationally, rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents simplifies till management and reduces the need for coin supply, limiting the labor and logistics burden on retailers. For the store, rounding down (to customers’ favor) or neutral rounding can be presented as equitable, but any rounding rule shifts a tiny, cumulative cost or benefit across many transactions.
Economically, eliminating penny production reduces government expenditure on coin minting, but it may transfer minor rounding-related gains or losses across millions of cash transactions. Consumers who rely on cash — including low-income, older or unbanked populations — could be affected disproportionately if rounding is not applied consistently or if small rounding increases accumulate against them.
Politically and administratively, retailers are moving ahead of formal federal guidance, producing a patchwork of policies that vary by chain and location. That variability increases the importance of clear communication at registers and on receipts; without national standards, franchisees and independent stores will make local decisions that could confuse customers and cash handlers.
Comparison & Data
| Retailer | Cash Rounding Policy | Card/Digital | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | Round to nearest 5 cents (some locations) | Unaffected | Example: $10.22 → $10.20; $10.23 → $10.25 |
| Wendy’s | Round down to nearest 5 cents (guidance) | Unaffected | Corporate guidance to restaurants |
| Kroger | Accepts pennies; asks for exact change | Unaffected | Continues to take pennies |
| Kwik Trip | Round down to nearest 5 cents | Unaffected | Midwestern convenience chain policy |
| Giant Eagle | Penny buyback for gift cards (collect coins) | Unaffected | One-day event to collect pennies |
| Sheetz | Encourage cashless; promotions for coin drop-offs | Unaffected | Promotions in at least one store |
The table shows divergent retail responses: some chains choose active rounding policies, others favor coin collection or customer requests for exact change. Across all responses, card and digital payments remain unchanged, reflecting the growing dominance of electronic transactions in U.S. retail.
Reactions & Quotes
Retailers framed their responses as practical, customer-focused adjustments while urging digital options where feasible. Company spokespeople emphasized fairness and clarity in any rounding policy.
“Digital and card payments remain unaffected; some locations may round cash transactions to the nearest nickel when pennies are unavailable.”
McDonald’s (company statement to CBS News)
Consumer advocates caution that even small rounding rules can add up and should be applied transparently.
“If rounding is implemented, it should be neutral or in the customer’s favor and accompanied by clear signage and receipts.”
Consumer advocacy expert (statement)
Wendy’s highlighted operational guidance to franchisees as a short-term adaptation rather than a permanent pricing change.
“We have given guidance to our restaurants to round cash transactions down to the nearest nickel if they are experiencing penny shortages.”
Wendy’s (company guidance to CBS News)
Unconfirmed
- No formal federal mandate on nationwide rounding procedures has been issued yet; the timing and content of any Treasury guidance remain unclear.
- It is not confirmed how long current retailer rounding policies will remain in effect or whether some chains will revert if coin supplies are restored.
Bottom Line
The last circulating penny was struck on November 12, 2025, and retailers are already adjusting operations: rounding, coin-collection drives and nudges toward cashless payments are visible responses. Card and digital transactions remain unchanged, but cash users may see different rules from store to store depending on retailer policy and local coin availability.
For consumers, the immediate impact is modest on a per-transaction basis, but cumulative effects matter for cash-reliant households. Clear communication from retailers and timely federal guidance would reduce uncertainty and ensure consistent treatment of small cash transactions nationwide.
Sources
- CBS News — (national news report, includes retailer statements)
- U.S. Mint — (official source on coin production and mint operations)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury — (official statements and policy guidance)