Highlights from this weeks’ new Roundup:
British media are picking sides on the debate for or against dumping low-denomination coins. The BBC argues that the decision isn’t as easy as shutting off machines at the mintAn industrial facility manufacturing coins. More. “Because even though many find lugging around or accepting loose changeThis is the action by which certain banknotes and/or coins are exchanged for the same amount in banknotes/coins of a different face value, or unit value. See Exchange. More a burden, for others coins are a lifeline – and without them, their very existence is threatened.” writes the BBC. The Economist, on the other hand, writes that the penny is in terminal decline following the return of inflation.
After the storm ripped through the southeastern coast of the U.S., consumers and merchants have been left grappling with card network outages and cashMoney in physical form such as banknotes and coins. More shortages. “In the hardest hit areas, credit card networks have been disabled in tandem with power and internet outages. Merchants who managed to open their doors were sometimes demanding that customers use cash only because of an inability to process credit or debit card transactions.” writes PaymentDive. However, as a larger number of people than usual turn to cash disbursements, longer lines have formed at ATMs, and some machines have run out of cash.
Australia, which is one of the few countries to support credit card surcharging, is considering scrapping the fee due to cost of living pressures. The article omits to mention that in the absence of surcharging, credit card fees are factored into the costs of products by merchants, thereby inflating prices for all consumers, regardless of how they pay. “A ban on surcharges would be disastrous for restaurants and cafes around Australia,” Australian Restaurant and Café Association CEO Wes Lambert told 9News.
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