![The Pandemic Has Caused a Nationwide Coin Shortage](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2017/05/coins.jpg?w=980&q=75)
The Pandemic Has Caused a Nationwide Coin Shortage
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a nationwide coin shortage, according to the Federal Reserve. We’ve experienced shortages on toilet paper, Lysol, Lysol wipes, eggs, meat, and now coins. The supply of pocket change is pretty scarce.
According to USA Today, Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the shutdowns caused by the pandemic have raised concerns about the circulation of coins. First of all, you have the closure of the economy which means the flowing of funds came to a screeching halt. Where businesses were able to stay open, like restaurants offering to-go, many of them used contactless payment systems because of concerns about the spread of the viral infection on cash. Also because of the pandemic, many automatic coin-sorting machines that people typically use to cash in loose change were off-limits. All this said, the flow of coins through the economy kind of just stopped.
Although many of us don’t think of change as a necessity, it is. Think about the grocery stores and convenience stores needing to make change for all of the cash-paying customers. The registers need the coins.
Jerome Powell says they are working with the Mint to increase supply, and they’re working with the reserve banks to get that supply where it needs to be. Powell thinks this is a temporary situation.
8 Things You Touch All Day That Need To Be Sanitized
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Two Texas Brands Become One In Billion Dollar Deal](http://townsquare.media/site/186/files/2021/09/attachment-tuesday-7-11-Highway-31.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Most Common Winning Louisiana Lottery Numbers](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2011/03/lottery.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Would a New Law Really Give Louisiana, Texas Residents $5000 to Buy American-Made Products?](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2021/03/GettyImages-cash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Popular Texas Retail Store Could Close All Of Its 37 Locations](http://townsquare.media/site/159/files/2024/02/attachment-attachment-_-21.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![25 Richest Louisiana Zip Codes](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2021/11/attachment-RS9908_122486570.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Georgia Shop Owner Who Paid Employee’s Final Check in 91,500 Pennies Ordered to Pay Almost $40,000](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2021/03/man-paid-final-check-in-pennies.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![5 Big Money Tickets Rake In $365,000 in Louisiana Lottery](http://townsquare.media/site/241/files/2020/03/RS25652_GettyImages-637601856-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![If You See This On A U.S. Coin Or Bill, It Could Worth A Ton Of Money](http://townsquare.media/site/160/files/2023/06/attachment-starred-dollar-bill-youtube.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Residents Search for Unclaimed Cash in 48 Other States](http://townsquare.media/site/241/files/2022/03/attachment-alexander-mils-lCPhGxs7pww-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)