The Penny’s Demise Is Leaving Some Businesses Shortchanged NYT | Top Stories By: Sopan Deb 16 October 2025 at 04:54 Some stores are rounding transactions to the nearest nickel and encouraging customers to pay with plastic, citing the Treasury Department’s decision to phase out the penny. © Saul Loeb/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesThe Treasury Department announced earlier this year it was winding down the production of the penny.