Many small businesses are breathing a bit easier as inflation has cooled and the race for workers slows. But consumers’ steady embrace of credit cards is taking a growing bite out of their margins.

If shopping for the holidays seems more expensive this year, blame credit card "swipe fees." This is what credit card companies charge stores when you use credit cards — and you can bet that fee gets ...

Visa and Mastercard say they've reached a deal to resolve a long-running battle with businesses over "swipe fees." But retailers and restaurants say it doesn't go far enough. Visa and Mastercard say ...