As seen at my local grocery store this morning at every check-out...

[progree]

28. 🚨 SNAP benefits users - Rounding in either direction not allowed, according to U.S. law

Nickels only? Grocers warn ending pennies could put stores in legal hot water, Scripp News, 10/21/25
Law requires cash and SNAP customers be charged the same price.

Grocers across the U.S. are concerned they will no longer be able to provide exact change for cash-paying customers after the U.S. Mint stopped producing new pennies in August.

While many shops plan to round to the nearest 5-cent increment, the grocery industry is worried such a move would violate U.S. law.

Grocery stores that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits must charge the same amount for customers using SNAP as for those paying with cash. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, grocers said they are seeking guidance on how to stay in compliance with the law if they have to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel.

. . .

Officials estimate ending penny production will save $56 million annually in material costs.

Eliminating the penny is not a partisan issue. Lawmakers from both parties have introduced legislation over the years seeking to end circulation of the coin.

More: https://www.scrippsnews.com/life/money/nickels-only-grocers-warn-ending-pennies-could-put-stores-in-legal-hot-water

So far I haven't run into any grocers charging to use cards, but my favorite restaurant started doing that in the past few months (in the form of a surcharge), and my second favorite has been doing it for many years (in the form of a discount for cash payment).

But aren't cards faster for cashiers than making change, or waiting for dodderers to come up with the right amount, thus saving on labor costs?

There are businesses that don't accept cards (note to self: Cl&N's). There are businesses that don't accept cash, so I read. Very confusing.