Penny Shortage Pinches New Hampshire Businesses and Customers Alike

April 24, 2026 - 20:52

A growing national penny shortage is forcing New Hampshire businesses to adapt, leaving both shop owners and customers scrambling for small change. At Hayward's Ice Cream in Nashua, signs now greet customers requesting they use credit cards or mobile payment options to help conserve the dwindling supply of pennies. The ice cream shop, like many others across the state, has found itself caught in a frustrating loop: without enough pennies to make exact change, cash transactions become a headache for everyone involved.

The shortage stems from disruptions in the U.S. Mint's production and distribution chain, exacerbated by increased demand for coinage during the pandemic. When consumers hoarded spare change at home and banks limited coin shipments, the ripple effects hit small businesses hardest. For New Hampshire's many independent retailers, restaurants, and service providers, the penny pinch means either rounding totals up or down, eating the difference themselves, or turning away cash altogether. Some have resorted to posting polite pleas for exact change or offering discounts to card users.

Customers, meanwhile, face unexpected inconvenience. Those who prefer paying with cash find themselves digging through car consoles or purse bottoms for stray coins, while others are forced to switch payment methods on the spot. For a state that prides itself on local, cash-friendly commerce, the shortage has become a quiet but persistent frustration. Until the supply chain stabilizes, both businesses and patrons will have to make do with less—and hope the penny finds its way back into circulation soon.