美国1美分硬币停产引危机，商家收银面临难题，现金用户日子更难

Group 1 - The United States is currently facing a "coin shortage crisis," particularly affecting the availability of one-cent coins, impacting both small convenience stores and large retail chains [1][3][5] - The crisis originated from a decision made by former President Trump on February 9 to stop the minting of one-cent coins due to high production costs, which was officially implemented by the U.S. Mint in May [3][5][10] - The initial expectation was that a shortage would not occur until early 2026, but banks began experiencing shortages by late August and early September, leading to disruptions in the retail sector [5][10][11] Group 2 - Many businesses have resorted to rounding cash transaction prices to the nearest five cents to cope with the shortage, but this practice is not universally applicable due to local regulations [7][8][10] - In cities like New York, strict regulations require precise change, and businesses are hesitant to adjust prices for fear of complaints or legal issues, leading to potential losses [8][10][11] - Major convenience store chains, such as "QuickTrip," are expected to incur significant losses, with estimates around $3 million due to the rounding practices [10][11] Group 3 - The cost of producing a one-cent coin is nearly four cents, which has led to ongoing debates about the financial wisdom of ceasing its production [11][13][16] - Experts warn that stopping the minting of one-cent coins may lead to increased production of five-cent coins, which have a manufacturing cost of nearly 14 cents, potentially negating any savings [16][18] - The situation highlights the need for clear federal guidelines on rounding rules and consumer protection measures to address the cash transaction disparities [18][20][24] Group 4 - Despite the cessation of minting, there are still many one-cent coins in circulation, but they are not actively being used, leading to a perception of a shortage [20][24] - The "no cent era" is not simply about stopping the minting of coins; it requires balancing production costs, business interests, and consumer needs [24]