Fewer pennies cause stores to change the way they make change

Heading into the holiday shopping season, local banks and retail stores may have to begin dealing with a decreasing number of pennies available to make change for cash customers.

Last week, the Associated Press confirmed that the United States is, indeed, running out of pennies — following the decision last February to halt their production. The decision follows several countries that have already eliminated their penny equivalents, including Canada (2012), Australia (1992), New Zealand (1987), and the Bahamas (2020).

Merchants in multiple regions of the country have already run out of pennies and are unable to produce exact change. Meanwhile, banks are unable to order fresh pennies and are rationing pennies for their customers.

One convenience store chain, Sheetz, got so desperate for