Summary
Some McDonald's locations in the U.S. have started rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents because of a penny shortage. This change follows the U.S. Mint's decision to stop making pennies, a move aimed at cutting costs. Not all McDonald's locations are doing this, but many are in areas where pennies are hard to find.
Key Facts
- McDonald's is rounding cash totals to the nearest five cents due to a penny shortage.
- The U.S. Mint stopped producing pennies on November 12, after a decision by President Donald Trump.
- The cost to produce a penny had risen to 3.69 cents, prompting the stop in production.
- McDonald's says this change does not affect card payments, which still use exact amounts.
- Menu prices remain the same, and customers can use cashless methods like credit cards.
- The rounding applies when cash totals end in certain numbers: for example, 1¢ or 2¢ round down and 3¢ or 4¢ round up.
- The policy is not nationwide and depends on the location experiencing penny shortages.
- Ending penny production is estimated to save the U.S. $56 million annually.
