Is there a penny shortage? What to know as Kroger starts asking customers to use exact change

Reports indicate a growing scarcity of pennies in physical retail stores, prompting concerns about a national shortage. Kroger, a major grocery chain, has asked customers to use exact change due to the issue. This follows President Trump's directive to cease penny production, citing its high manufacturing cost. Though there isn't a traditional "shortage," existing pennies circulate slowly as people store them rather than spend them. The U.S. Mint's last penny shipment was in August, contributing to the problem. Many dislike pennies due to their inconvenience and the large quantity needed for purchases. The penny's production cost exceeds its value, leading to financial losses for the government. While Trump ordered the production halt, eliminating the penny likely requires Congressional action. The banking industry anticipates supporting whatever policy is enacted regarding the penny. If pennies are unavailable, banks and retailers may round cash transactions to the nearest five cents. Online transactions, not using cash, should not be affected by the situation.