U.S. Ends Penny Production

The United States has ended production of the penny after over 230 years, prompting grocery stores like Kroger to request customers pay with exact change due to a shortage. Retailers and banks nationwide are struggling with the transition, and some stores are offering penny exchange programs. The cessation of minting the one-cent coin raises concerns about its impact on pricing and transactions, with legal challenges anticipated. As the last penny is minted, debates continue over the economic and cultural implications of retiring the coin, leaving businesses and consumers to adapt to the absence of the once-ubiquitous currency.