Why Some Mcdonald’s Customers Might Not Get the Right Change Back with Their Order

U.S. Running Out of Pennies Affects Retail Industry

The United States is facing a significant shortage of pennies, leading major retail chains like McDonald’s to issue warnings that cash transactions might not provide exact change. This development comes as the federal government announced in February 2025 that it would no longer mint pennies due to high production costs.

McDonald’s Response and Impact

In a statement sent to NBC Chicago, McDonald’s USA confirmed that some of its locations may not be able to provide exact change following the discontinuation. The company explained that they have a team working on long-term solutions to keep things simple and fair for customers. “We are actively looking into this matter and will continue to work with the federal government to obtain guidance,” said a statement from McDonald’s.

Rounding up or down transactions is becoming common practice among retailers, which can lead to financial losses. According to Dylan Jeon, senior director of government relations at the National Retail Federation, “This is not how we wanted it to go.” Kwik Trip, a Midwest convenience store chain, has already started rounding down every cash transaction to the nearest nickel, expected to cost them approximately $3 million this year.

Broader Impact on Retailers and Banks

The shortage of pennies is not isolated; it affects all retailers across the country. Banks are also experiencing a penny shortage as they have been unable to order fresh pennies from the U.S. Mint, leading to rationing for their customers.

This situation has created logistical challenges in the distribution network managed by the Federal Reserve system.

Several coin terminals operated by armored carrier companies, which facilitate bank transactions with coins, are now closed to both penny deposits and withdrawals. This further exacerbates the shortage in specific regions. A spokesperson from the Federal Reserve stated that the inventory of pennies is being depleted, leading to varying availability across different areas.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The lack of pennies has raised legal concerns as well. In some states and cities, it is illegal to round up transactions to the nearest nickel or dime due to laws that aim to place cash customers on an equal footing with those using debit or credit cards. To avoid potential lawsuits, many retailers are choosing to round down instead.

Expert Analysis

The decision to discontinue pennies was made by President Donald Trump in February 2025, citing high costs associated with their production. The U.S. Mint has already stopped minting pennies as of June 2025 and distributed the last batch to banks and armored vehicle service companies by August 2025.

While the government is saving $56 million annually by no longer producing pennies, this decision has led to a series of unforeseen complications.

The primary issue stems from the fact that pennies are rarely recirculated back into the economy and often stored or used for decoration. This results in a significant demand on the U.S. Mint to produce large quantities each year.

Jeff Lenard, senior vice president of the National Association of Convenience Stores, expressed concern over the abruptness of this decision: “We have been advocating abolition of the penny for 30 years.

But this is not the way we wanted it to go.” The situation has forced retailers and consumers alike to adapt to new practices that could impact their daily transactions in unforeseen ways.

As the holiday season approaches, the shortage of pennies continues to pose challenges for businesses across the country. While a solution remains elusive, experts suggest that this may be just one part of broader changes in currency management and financial systems.