In the Wal-Mart thread about January and February sales really sucking, I seem to recall Wal-Mart mentioned starting to do this very thing in order to capture people with less money to spend. And, of course, alert TB2Kers have already noted (and posted about) the toiletpaper rolls being narrower than before.
I just got a notice from my apartment complex that "the City of Gresham has implemented a [monthly] $7.50 service charge per household for residents living in the City of Gresham. This service charge will be used to maintain current essential service levels related to Police, Fire, and Parks ..." So now they're raising taxes (but are calling it a "service charge") on things they've ALREADY raised taxes on and issued bonds for, and as far as I know they did this without public approval or a request for comment or whatever. That $7.50 per month is what amounts to one less fast food meal eaten out, or a package of meat not purchased for home cooking, or a few less impulse purchases, etc.
The point being, we're being nickel-and-dimed to death from every direction. And some people are still apparently genuinely bewildered why the economy isn't booming ...