How high-end credit card perks are hurting shoppers who pay in cash

High-end credit card perks are quietly driving up prices for everyone. Stores like Tiger Fuel near the Blue Ridge Mountains now pay more in credit card fees than rent. Those fees can hit five percent for premium cards offering luxury rewards. That’s money coming straight out of store budgets, making it harder to keep prices low. For shoppers paying cash, it means higher costs just to cover the card swipes of others. Tiger Fuel’s vice president says it’s tougher to stay afloat when every swipe chips away at their bottom line. Next time you pay, think about who really pays the price.

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