In 2024, each penny cost approximately 3.69 cents to produce and distribute. This resulted in an annual loss of roughly $85.3 million for the Treasury.
As of late 2025/early 2026, the U.S. Mint has ended regular production of the penny. penny nickels
For cash transactions, retailers are increasingly adopting symmetrical rounding , where totals are rounded up or down to the nearest five cents. Digital and non-cash transactions still use exact cent increments. The Looming "Nickel Problem" In 2024, each penny cost approximately 3