NATIONWIDE – The official end of U.S. penny production, ordered by President Donald Trump due to the coin costing more to make than its face value (3.69 cents), is already causing localized currency shortages for retailers across the country.

The U.S. Mint reportedly produced its last pennies in August, following the Treasury Department’s final order for blanks in May. This abrupt discontinuation has led to immediate operational issues for businesses such as Kroger, Home Depot, and the convenience store chain Kwik Trip.

Retailers Forced to Round Down

Without a sufficient supply of one-cent coins, stores cannot provide exact change for cash transactions.

“It hit a lot sooner than anybody thought,” said Dave Niemi, public relations/training for Kwik Trip, noting the company is strugglin

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