This article is part of “Unaffordable America,” a series examining rising economic inequality in the U.S. and the policies that drive it.
RUCKERSVILLE, Va. — At the Tiger Fuel gas station and convenience store near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the managers expect to pay more in fees to credit card companies this year than they will on rent — one more expense weighing on the company and its customers amid the surging price of gas.
Those credit card fees — which can be as high as 5% for some premium cards offering luxury perks and hefty rewards — have been contributing to higher prices and limiting how much the store can spend on other areas, like wages, said Maurice Lamarche, vice president of retail operations for Tiger Fuel Co.
“It’s tougher for us to stay afloat, tougher for us to make money at our stores,” Lamarche said. “It makes it harder for us to keep our prices low.”
