7-Eleven expects to close hundreds of its convenience stores this year. According to earnings filings published last week, 7-Eleven’s North American operator plans to close 645 stores in the 2026 fiscal year — outpacing the 205 locations it forecasts it will open during that same time. Seven & i Holdings, the Japan-based parent of the convenience chain, noted that these closures “include the conversion to wholesale fuel stores.” The company did not specify which locations could be impacted. But the latest cuts arrive as higher prices strain consumers worldwide.

Patrons are lining up at Augusta National to secure a limited edition Masters gnome. This year marks the 10th and possibly final year of the gnome's release, making it highly sought after. Each year's gnome is unique, and this year's edition features the gnome in golf attire and with a Masters-themed cup. With only about 1,000 available daily, they have been selling out quickly and have become valuable on resale markets. Prices on eBay and Facebook Marketplace have soared, with some gnomes listed for up to $800. Speculation about this being the last edition has fueled demand. Many buyers have considered reselling them for the potential profit.

The legendary mountaineer Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest, has died at age 97. His family said in an emailed statement that he died Tuesday at home in Port Townsend, Washington. Whittaker’s 1963 ascent of Everest came 10 years after the pioneering climb of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. The feat made the once-shy, rangy climber an instant celebrity, in demand for public appearances and expected to lend his support to good causes. His family said Whittaker had an enduring belief in the power of nature to bring people together. Whittaker also served as the first full-time employee of the outdoor retailer REI and later as its president and CEO.

U.S. gas prices are climbing fast, and drivers are paying the highest pump prices since 2022 as the Iran war shakes oil markets. Many drivers face wild swings between stations and even from one day to the next. The Energy Information Administration says about half the price covers crude oil, and about 20% goes to refiners. Taxes take nearly 20%. Experts say retailers earn slim margins that get tighter when prices at the pump rise. Oil prices soared when U.S. markets opened Thursday, hours after President Donald Trump’s speech on continuing the Iran war in which he asked Americans for patience.

Shoppers increased their spending in February, particularly on cars and clothing, after pulling back at the start of the year due to severe winter storms. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.6% in February, from a revised 0.1% decline in January, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. But there’s concern that the Iran war, which is sending gasoline prices soaring and whose impact wasn’t reflected in the retail sales data, will derail spending at a time when Americans have already been squeezed by years of elevated inflation. Gas sped past an average of $4 a gallon on Tuesday for the first time since 2022 and jumped another 4 cents overnight. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline hit $4.06 Wednesday. That was a dollar more per gallon before the war.

Amazon says it has started offering faster U.S. deliveries of selected products for a fee. The e-commerce colossus said Tuesday that customers in more than 2,000 cities, towns and suburban areas can now get orders from among 90,000 items delivered in three hours. They include pantry staples, clothing, over-the-counter medications, cleaning supplies and electronics. The charge is $4.99 for Amazon Prime members and $14.99 for nonmembers. One-hour delivery slots also are available in hundreds of places, including major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, and smaller cities such as Des Moines, Iowa and Boise, Idaho. Amazon says Prime members will get charged $9.99 for the one-hour service, which costs nonmembers $19.99, Amazon said