Card fees creep onto restaurant tabs

Core Insights - Restaurants are increasingly adopting dual pricing strategies, offering discounts for cash payments to mitigate rising credit card fees [1][4] - The National Restaurant Association has noted that many restaurants are implementing surcharges or discounts due to inflationary pressures, particularly in response to increased costs [2][5] - The restaurant industry is facing significant financial challenges, with credit card fees rising over 70% since COVID, making them one of the highest expenses after food and labor [5][7] Group 1: Pricing Strategies - Many restaurants are now encouraging cash or debit card payments to reduce interchange expenses [4] - The introduction of surcharges for credit card payments is seen as a way for restaurants to be more transparent about rising costs, rather than simply increasing menu prices [6] Group 2: Industry Challenges - The restaurant industry has experienced nine consecutive months of traffic declines, attributed to higher food prices, labor costs, and reduced consumer spending due to inflation [7] - The National Restaurant Association is preparing restaurant operators for legislative changes regarding swipe fees, indicating ongoing advocacy efforts in the industry [6]