November 24, 2025

As Penny Shortage Worsens, RAM Pushes for Guidance & Asks For Your Plans On Cash Rounding

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In May of this year, the U.S. Treasury ceased minting the penny.  Retailers across the country are now facing a worsening shortage of one-cent coins, and many Massachusetts banks are no longer able to resupply RAM members with pennies.
 
RAM and our national partners representing the industry in Washington, D.C., are urging the federal government to take swift action to pass the Common Cents Act, legislation that will allow cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents, and is expected to include important standard rounding guidance. Passage of this federal law would preempt any state or local law that may be in conflict. 
 
As we await federal action, RAM has also been in communication with various agencies of the Commonwealth to raise awareness of the issue and to urge the state to consider issuing some guidance of its own. 

Retailers need guidance! Until such guidance is issued by the state or federal government, retailers across the country are implementing their own rounding practices. The two options commonly in use when pennies are unavailable are:

• Round all transactions down, to the benefit of the consumer. This presents an obvious cost to the business but may seem most fair to the consumer.
• Standard rounding (up/down) to the nearest nickel.

Either option may leave a MA retailer open to legal exposures in state and federal law, such as compliance with SNAP’s equal treatment provisions under federal law, as well as minimum pricing laws and sales tax remittance on state laws.  It should be noted that Massachusetts is one of the few states in the country which mandates sellers to make cash transactions available to consumers, so moving to all electronic transactions is not currently an option in Massachusetts. 
 
What are your plans at this point for rounding?  Please take one minute to respond to this member surveyso that RAM and policy makers will have a better understanding of your plans. 
 
Any RAM member implementing any rounding policy is strongly advised to post conspicuous consumer notice and disclosure of the policy at the point of sale.  

2025 RAM Awards of Excellence (RAMAE) Winners Celebrated at RAM Annual Meeting

The awards, now in their 25th year, are presented annually to recognize excellence, innovation and service within the retail industry, with nominations often coming from industry peers, local chambers of commerce and members of the Legislature.  Every year we look to honor long-term leaders alongside the new gems of our local industry.  The quality of this year’s recipients was truly outstanding.  
 

For an up close look at this year's winners, click on the
winner name to view a brief video.

EBO & Co. Grocery
Creative Concepts in Retailing
 
Grace by Nia
Innovator of the Year
 
Rail Trail Flatbread Company
Restaurant of the Year
 
Friends’ Marketplace
Retailer of the Year
 
Giblees
Retail Hall of Fame

Click on image to learn more about the producer of these videos. 
 

Shop AAPI Holiday Night Market

hosted by Asian Business Empowerment Council

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Celebrate the season, support local, and experience the flavors, stories, and creativity of the AAPI small business community!