New Cash Price Rules at Stores Are Rolling Out

(Mix 93-1) Have you encountered 'cash rounding' yet? I am beginning to experience it when I pay with cash. (Yes, I still carry a little bit of cash from time to time.) I see more signs of this new pricing phenomenon now at East Texas retailers, restaurants, convenience stores, and others that still accept cash.

Why The Penny Ended

You would think that since the penny has been discontinued, prices would change to reflect a price ending with a zero or five. But they have not, and the majority of them still end with a nine. In 2025, the penny was deemed irrelevant. The last penny was minted on November 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. While it still remains legal tender, it will still be in circulation; no new pennies will be made, bringing an end to the 232-year run as a US coin and form of currency.

Get our free mobile app

This morning, I stopped into a CEFCO store to purchase a Coke Zero and paid with cash. The cashier said it was $3.22. When she saw I had a $5 bill, she said the new cash price was $3.20. A quick peek at the screen on the register display read 'Cash Rounding' with the new total of $3.20. This was the first time I had encountered this.

How Rounding Works At The Register

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a new policy posted at Braum's and Taco Bell in regards to paying with cash and price rounding. Both policies were very similar, and I'd suspect that the majority of businesses that accept cash will be implementing a very similar policy for those who choose to pay with cash.

This new rounding policy only applies to those paying with cash. All cashless transactions will reflect the actual price, and you'll still fully pay for those totals ending with a 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, or 9!

Lucky Larry, Mix 93-1

What It Means For East Texas Shoppers

It's sad to see the copper coin go away, but when it costs four times as much to produce compared to its monetary value, it's easy to see why the decision was made to discontinue its production. We will all get used to this new 'cash rounding' policy and, in some cases, still be able to save a few cents! Not that it will go far, but it's still a savings!