Recent regulations limiting "swipe fees" were supposed to keep costs under control. However, charges for accepting credit and debit cards may actually go up as a result of the new ruled.
Alex Matjanec of MyBankTracker.com explains that small debit card purchases are getting more expensive than ever.
As financial institutions and regulators continue their game of Whack-A-Mole, consumers are going to pay the price (Matjanec reports that prices for some small ticket items have already gone up). For purchases under $10, merchants used to get a deal and pay a discounted fee. Now, they're paying the maximum allowable by law, and something has to change -- even if it's pricing or consumer behavior.
In the meantime, if you want to help your favorite merchant out, don't use plastic when you make a small purchase.