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Posted on 03/12/2026 2:56:02 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Months after the last of the United States' 1-cent coins were pressed, some states are beginning to offer their own 2 cents on the penny problem by setting rounding guidance for cash purchases.
President Donald Trump announced early last year an end to penny production, saying it was wasteful. It cost 3.7 cents to make each 1-cent coin in 2024, according to the U.S. Mint. The move led to a shortage of pennies in cash registers last summer, forcing consumers and businesses to confront a penniless future in which making exact change would be difficult.
The Treasury Department has said it will continue circulating the roughly 114 billion pennies that exist for "as long as possible." Pennies must still be accepted as payment.
One solution to the penny problem is rounding to the nearest nickel, using a practice called symmetrical rounding. If the final price, after taxes, ends in one, two, six or seven cents, payment in cash rounds down. For example, $1.91 or $1.92 becomes $1.90. If the price ends in three, four, eight or nine, cash payment rounds up. For $1.98 or $1.99, the consumer pays $2.
A bill introduced last year in Congress and passed out of the House financial services committee would apply symmetrical rounding across the country. U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., said in an email that the federal law is important to prevent a "confusing patchwork of state policies."
The bill hasn't been voted on in the House and would still need to move through the U.S. Senate before reaching [PRESIDENT] Trump's desk.
(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...
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As businesses have introduced rounding, some Americans have taken to social media to say they feel scammed, even if it is a penny or two at a time.
Nikki Capozzo-Hennessy, 50, said she tends to pay in cash because it makes her more conscious of her spending. The Trumbull, Connecticut, resident posted her grocery store receipt online when she noticed the rounding adjustment on a purchase of $8.73, with tax. The store chose to round down, and she gained three cents.
Capozzo-Hennessy said it might feel taxing if she had to hand over extra pennies every time, but she also thinks it's practical to stick with one rule. She runs a food truck business and said they'd likely use symmetrical rounding to be consistent.
"At the end of the day it's three cents, but I can imagine with all the purchases that you make, it can add up," Capozzo-Hennessy said.
“...114 billion pennies...”
I’ve got at least HALF of that in my Change Jar, LOL! I’ll save the economy for us all! *SMIRK*
I personally find it more convenient.
Even 2% inflation over decades leads to currency debasement.
End the Fed.
They are of no use.
Solely to annoy my ex-wife, who is a clerk at a store.
So different rules for different states. Yeah, like that’s gonna work.
LOL!
"If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny, a farthing will do. If you haven't got a farthing God bless you! "
Bring back the penny, but make it cheaper.
There are still a gazillion pennies in circulation.
I’m not sure that “.99” pricing ever fooled anyone. I see $1.99 and I think TWO BUCKS!
How about they just get rid of TAXES on our purchases? Guess that never crossed their minds... *Rolleyes*
Get rid of the nickel, too.
Why does 3 and 4 cents get rounded up? They're below a nickel.
Get rid of income tax...and replace with sales tax. Would be much fairer I think.
Drinkers* of Trader Joe’s ‘Two Buck Chuck’ wine hit hardest!
*SMIRK*
*Cat Lady Karens, LOL!
And here we have the famous 1916 bare-boob Liberty quarter (probably designed by a pervert). The public outcry was great enough that the boob was covered up in the 1918 coin.
Padiddle.
I offered pennies at a dollar store one day last week. My total was $19.84 and I had four pennies in my purse so was offering $20.04. The clerk turned down the pennies and looked at me strangely for offering.
Out of the $20.00, she gave me .15 change. I pointed out she shorted me a penny. She frowned and picked one up off the register and pushed it across the counter.
Nah. When I was stationed in England in the 1970s we didn't have any pennies on base, so we rounded up or down 1-2 cents. We never missed them.
I don’t understand. Even if it takes 3.7 cents to make one penny, that penny will be used many, many times. Doesn’t that compensate?
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