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The ongoing conflict in Iran and normal seasonal demand increases have caused gas prices to climb.”Spring Break season is here as the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped nearly 35 cents since last week,” according to data from AAA. March 12 National Average: $3.59One Week Ago: $3.25One Month Ago: $2.94One Year Ago: $3.08 That’s an opportunity for Costco, which has used low gas prices as a way to entice people to join the warehouse club.”You save approximately 20 cents a gallon at Costco over other local vendors,” David Schwartz, who, together with his wife Susan, authored “The Joy of Costco,” told CNBC. “That’s something we have seen time and time again across the country.” Costco has a plan for rising gas pricesAs gasoline prices fall, Costco does not lower prices at the same pace it raises them when prices are climbing. This allows the company to recoup some of the profits lost by doing the reverse when prices were rising.In theory, that alleviates some of the pain at the pump for Costco members as prices rise.Former Costco CFO Richard Galanti defended that practice during the warehouse club’s gas business during its second-quarter earnings call.“I think part of that story has been thrown away because it seems that not only us, but the supermarket retailers and other discount retailers that operate large numbers of gas stations, they’ve been able to use it too. As prices went up or went, even went down a little bit, they didn’t go down as fast as perhaps they could have been, which gives us, in our view, an ability to make a little more and still be the most competitive,” he said.

Rising gas prices may drive more people to Costco’s gas stations. Shutterstock

Costco’s gas can be worth a membershipCostco sells its Gold membership for $60. If you assume $0.20 per gallon in gas savings, then the math on making joining the warehouse club worth it just for gas is simple.Every five gallons saves you $1, so 50 gallons is $10 in savings, and 300 gallons equals the price of your membership. As gas prices rise, Costco customers are also more willing to drive farther to visit the chain’s pumps. Former Costco CFO Richard Galanti shared more color on the chain’s gas pricing during its fourth-quarter-earnings call.“Everybody seems to be wanting to make more in gas, which allows us, in our view, to make a little more and still be even more profitable,” he said. “We’ve seen our competitive spread versus our direct competitors at every location, on average, improve over the last couple of years to now be in the — I want to say the $0.30 range per gallon. Thirty is the average, which is up. It’s an average, and it can range from 10 to 45.”Related: History of Costco: Company timeline and factsCostco also has a new gas strategyWhile it’s a new plan for the chain, Costco has added standalone gas stations to its portfolio. It has one in California and plans another location in Hawaii.”The Costco gas station is expected to have 20 fueling islands with 40 gas pumps, according to a report from local station KITV News. It is also about a mile from a traditional Costco Wholesale store that includes a Costco gas station,” Grocery Dive reported.GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders believes that Costco could add to its list of standalone gas stations.”Costco gas is wildly popular with members because of the cheaper prices. If successful, there are other locations where this could be implemented,” according to Arizona Republic.Gas is a massive driver for Costco.”The number of warehouses with gas stations varies significantly by country. “We operated 747 gas stations at the end of 2025. Our gasoline business represented approximately 10% of total net sales in 2025,” the chain shared in its annual report.Related: Popular coffee chain closing all locations after surprise sale

On Friday, President Trump signed two executive orders related to making housing more affordable for Americans. The first focuses on increasing home construction, and the second aims to help small banks extend mortgage loans.Since Trump began his second term, I have covered his ideas to improve home affordability, such as creating 50-year mortgages and portable mortgages. (The 50-year mortgage would make buying a home cheaper in the short term but much more expensive in the long run. Portable mortgages exist in the U.K. and Canada but would be difficult to implement in the U.S., to say the least.)Friday’s executive orders are Trump’s latest attempt to shift focus to his efforts on housing affordability before the midterm elections.One order focuses on revising environmental regulations to build homes fasterWhy does Trump focus on home construction in his first executive order? Because slow construction leads to less inventory, resulting in more demand than supply. When there are more buyers than homes for sale, houses can sell for more. Ideally, more new-construction homes would make houses less expensive.For years, new construction has struggled to keep up with homebuyer demand. According to a Zillow report released on Thursday, year-over-year single-family home constructions decreased by 6.5% in January. Speeding up new-home construction could benefit many buyers.Related: Iran war causes mortgage rate surgeThe executive order directs federal agencies to update a number of the regulations currently in place that slow down construction, specifically environmental regulations. “The Order directs the EPA Administrator and the Secretary of the Army to review and revise stormwater, wetlands, and other water-related permitting requirements to reduce building and ownership costs, streamline Federal regulatory approvals, and increase home insurability,” the White House stated in a fact sheet.The order instructs agencies to remove or change “overly burdensome” housing requirements related to water, energy, and alternative energy. It asks federal agencies to offer state and local governments incentives to make the construction permit process faster, one item on the list being to “curtail ‘green’ building codes.”The second order aims to help more community banks offer mortgagesTrump’s second executive order calls for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to alter its regulations so that more lenders — particularly smaller, community banks — can provide mortgages to its customers.“Community banks and smaller lenders have retreated from mortgage markets they once served, unable to absorb the compliance costs associated with making, servicing, or holding a mortgage made to community borrowers,” the White House wrote in a fact sheet.Among its list of demands, the order asks for streamlined regulations, alternative valuation models to make home appraisals faster and less expensive, and more digital tools to speed up the home-buying timeline.The White House claims that by making it easier for small banks to offer home loans, there will be less competition between lenders, mortgage rates would go down, and it would help low-to-moderate income borrowers, first-time home buyers, and those buying in rural areas qualify for mortgages.More on the housing market:The Iran war causes mortgage rates to surgeExisting-home sales exceed Goldman Sachs’ expectationsAARP quietly releases key guidance on mortgage rates, real estateConsidering the orders’ potential ramificationsI felt conflicted as I read through the executive orders’ fact sheets, because I care deeply about both affordable housing and the environment. It’s crucial to think about how these changes could play out in reality.Large chunks of these orders focus on cutting through red tape to speed up the housing construction and home-buying processes. However, cutting red tape also leaves more room for oversights and errors.By overturning environmental regulations, it’s possible homes will be built in areas that aren’t necessarily safe.If federal agencies update wetland, stormwater, and water-related permitting rules, will houses be built in areas that are more likely to flood?While alternative valuation models, such as desktop and hybrid appraisals, are faster and less expensive than traditional, in-person ones, they’re often less accurate. If an AVM results in a low appraisal, a homebuyer may not qualify for a mortgage large enough to buy the house.The White House wrote, “Over more than a decade, a wave of regulatory changes — driven largely by the Dodd-Frank Act and subsequent rulemaking — has dramatically increased the cost and complexity of accessing a mortgage.” The Dodd-Frank Act was enacted after the 2008 financial crisis to protect consumers from deceptive lending practices. Would becoming laxer about regulations make more homeowners more vulnerable to predatory lending?Related: Iran war causes mortgage rate surge

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealA good patio setup needs a few key things to strike that perfect combination of cozy and functional. You need sturdy but comfortable seating where everyone has a chair or chaise to chill on, a coffee table or two to hold cocktails and other light bites, some umbrellas to keep you cool, and of course, a fire pit that pulls double duty at providing the perfect summer mores station and keeping you warm when the sun sets and an evening chill arises. Gone are the days where the work of setting up a fire pit made it more of a nuisance than anything. These days many models have a built-in fuel tank that quickly gets a fire going with the simple twist of a knob, which makes it easier than ever to head outside, light it up, and curl up in a chair for a super cozy afternoon or evening. That convenience certainly can come at a cost with some of the high-tech models, but these days there’s a deal for everything, including the must-have patio addition. Wayfair is selling the $540 Latitude Run Laurean Outdoor Fire Pit Table for 48% off, which means you can score savings of $260 and get your own for only $280. If you’re a Wayfair Rewards member, you can even save an extra $14 on top of that. Latitude Run Laurean Outdoor Fire Pit Table, $280 (was $540) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

Why do shoppers love it?Where this Wayfair model stands out compared to other similar models is that it offers table space and cupholders in addition to its warm glow, while other models typically don’t have those extra features. While the fire pit portion itself measures 28 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 10 inches thick, the entire table measures 43 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 25 inches high, which gives the piece a wrap-around flat surface that surrounds the fire pit and is perfect for placing drinks, food, and other outdoor or patio accessories. That outer “shell” includes cupholders on two corners and a lower hanging shelf that sits beneath the table top so you don’t need to put items down on the ground where they could be knocked or kicked over on accident.The fire pit itself delivers 60,000 British thermal units (BTUs) of heat, which can typically heat an area up to 2,000 square feet with its 100,000-use ignition system. The hidden propane fuel tank, which sits within the table, offers up to eight hours of burntime before needing to be refilled. Blue glass stones, which are included in the purchase, sit in the center of the pit to offer both better heat distribution and add some ambiance to the environment. You can use the rotating side knob to turn on or off, and adjust the flame size to your liking. What’s even more unique about this piece is that you can convert it into a fully flat service by covering up the fire pit portion. It has a removable lid that gives you a completely flat tabletop when it’s put on, and it can easily be taken off when you want to use the fire pit portion. Outside of that firepit portion, the table is made from stainless steel that is scratch-resistant, rust-resistant, chip-resistant, and fade-resistant. Related: Wayfair is selling a $197 lift-top coffee table with six storage compartmentsIn total, you get the fire pit, the glass filler, the table-top lid, and a cover. What to expect from a $280 fire pit table: Pros and consProsSave on shipping: Unlike a lot of furniture purchases, this fire pit has free delivery. Superior durability: The fire pit is scratch-resistant, rust-resistant, chip-resistant, and fade-resistant. Storage features: The fire pit table has cupholders on two corners of the table and a low hanging shelf for storage. Quality construction: The table is CSA-certified and factory fire-tested for safety. ConsAssembly required: Assembly is required and tools are needed. Limited space: Some shoppers feel that the propane tank area is a tight fit, although it does work. Shoppers absolutely love the warmth and ambiance this fire pit patio table creates. Assembly is required, but it’s very easy and straightforward to put together, and the finished product looks stunning. The extra features like the cup holders and shelf are very convenient and an added bonus that a lot of other fire pits don’t have. “Perfect fire pit and puts out a decent amount of heat,” one shopper said. Shop more deals Beachcrest Home Shawnna Folding Adirondack Chair, $109 (was $269) at WayfairThe Twillery Co. Pierpoint 108-Inch Market Umbrella, $70 (was $99) at WayfairLatitude Run Metal Planter Box With Trellis and Wheels, $257 (was $327) at WayfairOne of the best parts of patio season is getting comfortable and cozy outdoors with lots of friends and family, and the fun shouldn’t stop just because the weather cools off in the evenings. Stay nice and warm, and get a gorgeous, versatile piece of patio furniture, with the Latitude Run Laurean Outdoor Fire Pit Table.

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Kharg Island is home to about 90% of Iran’s oil exports, with President Donald Trump saying its targets were ‘totally obliterated.’

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Consumers tend to have a favorite when it comes to their choice of coffee shop, but loyalty is not absolute.”More than 50% of Starbucks’ customers often purchase at its competitors, including Dunkin and McDonald’s, who are also known as ‘roamers’. Dunkin and McDonald’s were also found to maintain a relatively high percentage of roamers of 53% and 38% respectively,” according to a report in the International Journal of Hospitality Management.That means that new players have an opportunity to make headway in the space, something we’ve seen with the growth of emerging players, including 7 Brew and Dutch Bros. Loyalty programs, like Starbucks Rewards; however, these programs do tie consumers to one brand over others, and some customers just like the coffee at one chain over another.This makes a change in branding more than just new signage and a change in loyalty apps. That’s a risk Dutch Bros. has been willing to take in buying the 20-location Clutch Coffee Bar, closing all its stores, and reopening under the Dutch Bros. name.Dutch Bros. closing Clutch Coffee Dutch Bros is accelerating its expansion by converting the 20-location Clutch Coffee Bar into Dutch Bros stores.”We now expect to open at least 181 new system shops, which include the recently completed acquisition of 20 Clutch Coffee Bar locations across North and South Carolina. This conversion opportunity accelerates our presence in the Carolinas and allows us to introduce Dutch love to these communities beginning later this year,” Dutch Bros. CEO Christine Barone shared during the chain’s fourth-quarter earnings call.There’s a risk in changing the chain’s branding, but the two companies share a lot of the same DNA. Clutch Coffee founder Darren Spicer worked at Dutch Bros. and based his chain on its drive-through model.”The general premise for Spicer was straightforward: replicate the drive-thru coffee density he witnessed on the West Coast on the other side. It took five years to open seven locations, and Spicer grinded in the years to come, creating a brand that mirrored many of the culture-first principles Dutch Bros is known for,” according to QSR Magazine.A quick look at Clutch Coffee Bar2018: Clutch Coffee Bar founded in Mooresville, North Carolina by CEO Darren Spicer, a former Dutch Bros manager, according to QSR Magazine.The company focused on a drive-thru coffee model emphasizing speed, energy drinks, and strong community engagement, added QSR.Clutch expanded rapidly across the Carolinas, reaching about 20 locations in North Carolina and South Carolina, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.After the acquisition, Clutch locations are being remodeled and reopened as Dutch Bros coffee shops, reported The New Irmo News.Dutch Bros. Senior Vice President Hyun Jin Cho sees the acquisition as a way to grow faster.”In terms of Clutch, you know, the way we are looking at this, we certainly, to your point on the economics of this, view this as a very productive way of using our capital, deploying capital in acquiring those sites and then converting them, being that they are existing coffee stands. Relatively, you know, lower investment to be able to convert these to Dutch Bros Inc.,” they said.More Retail:Costco sees major shift in member behaviorRetail chain shuts all locations as legal changes hit industryLululemon struggles to reverse concerning customer behaviorBarone shared that her company has been quietly converting smaller operators into Dutch Bros. locations.”So last year, a number of the shops we opened were conversions of other different types of concepts. So this is something that has been in our portfolio for a while, being able to take attractive real estate and turn it into a Dutch Bros Inc. So we will just continue to look for the best real estate opportunities,” she added.

Dutch Bros. uses a drive-through model.Shutterstock

Brand changes come with riskChanging the branding on the Clutch Coffee Bar stores to Dutch Bros. does create some risk, as it could be seen by customers as an invitation to try other chains. It’s also an opportunity to build a stronger connection with customers.“If you can flip that switch in a customer’s head and become the brand that they define their choice of coffee around, their loyalty can be incredibly powerful,” Dale Harris, 2017 World Barista Champion with 13 years of experience with Hasbean and Ozone Coffee, told Coffee Intelligence.In the coffee space, loyalty matters.“Due to the intense competition among international coffee players, brand loyalty has become a strategically critical factor in order for each and every coffee organization to sustainably thrive in today’s marketplace,” according to a study from the International Journal of Hospitality Management.Key findings included:A 5% increase in customer retention subsequently results in 25-75% profit enhancement.Keeping a customer loyal costs a company five times less than attracting new potential ones.Related: Beloved rum, bourbon, vodka brand files Chapter 7 bankruptcy