82. Retailers and credit-card backlash

82. Retailers and credit-card backlash
Tags: Top 100 Retail
December 22, 2009

When gas prices nationwide topped the $4-per-gallon mark in summer 2008, c-stores and gas stations tried to protect their already-lean margins by offering customers modest per-gallon discounts for using cash or debit cards. Weary drivers, eager to economize where possible, responded favorably. But as the economy tanked and gas dropped back to $2 per gallon, retailers switched gears to emphasize enticements to get Americans back into their cars again.