CHICAGO, October 2, 2025 — Several associations that lobby on behalf of the food-away-from-home industry have joined a coalition aiming to secure legislative permission for restaurants and other merchants to round off customers’ charges to the nearest nickel.
The move is necessary to prevent a recent drop in the availability of pennies from festering into a full-fledged shortage that could leave some operations in violation of the law, according to the groups.
They contend that businesses in some areas are already struggling to find enough of the coins to provide customers who pay in cash with the full amount of the change they’re legally due. The spot shortages have reportedly emerged since the federal government stopped minting pennies in June because the cost of producing the coins exceeds one cent each.
“Many more will run out soon in the coming days,” asserts a letter sent by the coalition to four prominent members of the U.S. Congress.
The nine participating trade groups include the National Restaurant Association, the National Association of Convenience Stores, the National Retail Federation, the National Grocers Association, and FMI-The Food Industry Association.
The letter asks the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives’ respective banking and finance committees to avoid a shortage by taking action now.
It specifically requests that Congress pass a law enabling merchants to round off charges that don’t end in a whole dollar amount to the nearest nickel. For instance, a tab of $11.03 would be restated as a charge of $11.05, while a $11.02 guest check would be adjusted to $11 even.
Federal law is necessary because at least 10 states and local jurisdictions currently forbid merchants from rounding their charges, the coalition contends. A national statute would trump those prohibitions.
It also asks the lawmakers to pass measures that would facilitate check-cashing at more retail facilities, with the payouts also rounded to the nearest nickel.
Legislation encompassing those actions—The Common Cents Act—has already been introduced in both Congressional chambers. "We need the legislation to be addressed immediately by Congress,” the letter states.
The communication was sent to Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the same committee; Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee; and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the committee.
IFMA The Food Away from Home Association does not engage in lobbying and is not a part of the coalition.
As Managing Editor for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Romeo is responsible for generating the group's news and feature content. He brings more than 40 years of experience in covering restaurants to the position.