• Spiking jet fuel prices have left airlines looking for ways to recoup their extra costs.
• Many airlines have already increased ticket prices, and now some are bumping checked bag fees.
• Delta Air Lines said it will increase fees for first and second checked bags by $10 from Wednesday.

Travelers are feeling the pinch from the war in Iran.

Many airlines have already increased ticket prices and introduced fuel surcharges, but now there's a new target: checked bags.

Three major US airlines have increased baggage fees in recent days as soaring jet fuel prices have left them scrambling to offset skyrocketing costs.

The US and Israel's war on Iran has caused supply chain disruptions, leading to a surge in jet fuel prices, which has tightened margins for airlines.

Flight prices are rising as a result, and some airlines have already canceled — or are planning to cancel — flights due to the jet fuel shortages.

See which airlines have increased their fees for checked luggage:

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines will increase fees for first and second checked bags by $10 from Wednesday, according to a statement shared with Business Insider.

For the third checked bag, fees will increase by $50. The changes apply to domestic and select short-haul international routes, and will not impact long-haul international flights or complimentary bag benefits, the airline said.

"These updates are part of Delta's ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics," Delta said in the statement on Tuesday.

United Airlines

United Airlines said on Friday that it was raising the fees for first and second checked bags by $10. Like Delta, it said it will charge an extra $50 for third bags.

The airline said in a previously shared statement to Business Insider that this would apply to "customers traveling in the US, Mexico, and Canada and Latin America beginning with tickets purchased Friday, April 3."

JetBlue

JetBlue increased its checked baggage fees at the end of March.

The price of a first checked bag for a domestic flight has risen to $39 from $35 on non-peak days, and to $49 from $40 on peak travel days.

In a previous statement to Business Insider, the airline did not directly reference rising fuel prices as the reason for the fee increase, though it did note that its operating costs are rising.

"As we experience rising operating costs, we regularly evaluate how to manage those costs while keeping base fares competitive and continuing to invest in the experience our customers value," a spokesperson for JetBlue previously told Business Insider.

• I'm a college admissions expert, and I noticed this Ivy Day was the most competitive in history.
• I realized that colleges aren't admitting the top students anymore.
• The earlier a student prepares for college, the better.

This year's Ivy Day was brutal, and the admissions numbers prove it.

Yale admitted a record-low 2.9% of regular decision applicants from a pool of nearly 55,000 students, the second-largest in the school's history.

Columbia received 61,031 applications — the largest pool in its history — and admitted just 4.23%. Brown admitted 5.35% from a record pool of nearly 48,000 applicants. Harvard and Princeton withheld their official data, but estimates place their acceptance rates at approximately 3.7% and 3.9%, respectively.

I teach at Harvard Summer School and have spent years helping students from around the world navigate the college admissions process. Four out of five of my students got into Yale. Four out of five got into Stanford. Yet one of the strongest applications I've ever guided got waitlisted everywhere. That surprised me, and after watching this cycle up close, here's what I learned and some other surprises from a tough year.

Getting to the top of your class matters less than you think

One of my students admitted to Stanford this year was ranked in the 91st percentile at her high school. She was not at the top of her class, and not even close to achieving valedictorian. Yet she got in. Several classmates ranked above her were rejected.

This isn't an anomaly. Admissions officers at the most selective schools aren't ranking applicants from smartest to least smart and admitting the top tier. They're looking to confirm admitted students can handle the academic rigor.

Once you've demonstrated that, they stop looking at your rank. Being in the top 10% of your class with competitive test scores is the threshold. Crossing it further often doesn't help you as much as families think it does.

The personal statement is not a one-draft exercise

Among my students with the strongest outcomes this cycle, we averaged just under 19 drafts of the personal statement. Those are not small revisions, but almost 19 complete drafts.

The goal of a great personal statement isn't to impress. It's to make an admissions officer say, "I want to have lunch with this kid."

The best essays I worked on this year were built around a contradiction, something unexpected about the student that made them genuinely thought-provoking. One student's essay was about busking in Europe. It wasn't impressive in the traditional sense. It was courageous and revealing. She got into Yale, Stanford, and Princeton.

Starting early creates options

Some of my students who get individual coaching start working with me as early as 8th grade. I help students find their core values, instead of trying to check boxes that admissions counselors may or may not want to see.

Even if you didn't start college prep early, getting a jump start on your essays can help. This year, all of my rising seniors began essay work in June, months before applications opened.

Starting early isn't just about having more time. It's about having the space to find the real story, not the first story.

Even exceptionally strong students get rejected

This is the most important thing I learned. One of my students applied to Brown, Harvard, Stanford, and Yale. If you had asked me before decisions came out to rank my students by likelihood of admission, I would have placed him near the top. His application was strong by every measure.

But he was waitlisted or rejected at all four.

His family is disappointed. I'm disappointed. And yet, he now has an offer to an honors college with his first-year tuition fully covered. When you watch how he processes this, including his thinking, regrouping, and planning, you can see clearly that he is the kind of person who will be successful no matter where he goes.

That is the point. The students who handled disappointment best this year had something in common: they had genuinely built lives around their core values. No rejection letter could take that away.

This process is not fully within anyone's control. The best thing any student can do is become someone worth admitting, and then trust that the right door will open.

Steve Gardner teaches Leadership and Impact at Harvard Summer School and is the founder of The Ivy League Challenge.

• Saks Global is closing more stores, including locations of its flagship brand and Neiman Marcus.
• In January, Saks filed for bankruptcy after failing to pay vendors for over a year.
• The company says it is now focusing on the luxury sector.

Saks Global, the bankrupt company behind Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman, is continuing to close stores.

In March, the company said it would close 10 Saks Fifth Avenue and two Neiman Marcus locations. The news came after a February announcement that it would close eight Saks Fifth Avenue stores and one Neiman Marcus, as well as nearly all of its Saks Off Fifth and Neiman Marcus Last Call locations.

Following the closures, only 15 Saks Fifth Avenue locations will remain open, according to an updated press release. Thirty-three Neiman Marcus stores will continue operating, the company said.

"Our go-forward store portfolio will comprise the best performing and most desirable locations in markets with the highest concentration of luxury customers," Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Saks Global's new CEO, said in a statement announcing the closures.

Word of the latest wave of closures came with some good news for the company: More than 500 brands have resumed shipping to Saks' retailers after the company had struggled with inventory for months.

"The Company has reached or nearly reached agreements with more than 175 brands across all categories," the statement said.

In January, Saks Global filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a year marked by missed payments and restructuring. The company owes hundreds of millions of dollars to brands like Chanel and LVMH.

As part of its turnaround plan, Saks said in January that it was "sharpening its focus on luxury" and would close the majority of its discount stores.

Saks Off 5th's website, a separate legal entity from Saks Global, hosted a liquidation sale and is shutting down.

Earlier in January, Saks shut down a facility in Florida and said it would lay off at least 74 positions.

Here is the full list of Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Off 5th, Neiman Marcus, and Last Call locations closing:

Saks Fifth Avenue locations closing:

1. The Summit (Birmingham, AL)

2. Polaris Fashion Place (Columbus, OH)

3. American Dream (East Rutherford, NJ)

4. Shops at Canal Place (New Orleans, LA)

5. Bala Plaza (Philadelphia, PA)

6. Biltmore Fashion Park (Phoenix, AZ)

7. Stony Point Fashion Park (Richmond, VA)

8. Utica Square (Tulsa, OK)

9. Beachwood Place (Beachwood, OH)

10. Wisconsin Avenue (Chevy Chase, MD)

11. Michigan Avenue (Chicago, IL)

12. South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa, CA)

13. Las Vegas Boulevard (Las Vegas, NV)

14. Long Island (Huntington Station, NY)

15. Triangle Town Center (Raleigh, NC)

16. North Star Mall (San Antonio, TX)

17. Plaza Frontenac (St. Louis, MO)

18. Tysons Galleria (Tysons, VA)

Neiman Marcus locations closing:

1. Copley Place (Boston, MA)

2. Ala Moana (Honolulu, HI)

3. Topanga (Canyon Park, CA)

Saks Off 5th locations closing

1. Mebane (Mebane, NC)

2. Charleston (Charleston, SC)

3. Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)

4. Ala Moana (Honolulu, HI)

5. Petaluma (Petaluma, CA)

6. Glendale (Glendale, AZ)

7. Tucson (Tucson, AZ)

8. Merrimack (Merrimack, NH)

9. Riverhead (Riverhead, NY)

10. Clinton (Clinton, CT)

11. North Atlanta (Woodstock, GA)

12. Aurora Chicago (Aurora, IL)

13. Dallas Park (Dallas, TX)

14. Northbrook (Northbrook, IL)

15. Eagan (Eagan, MN)

16. Columbus (Columbus, OH)

17. San Diego (San Diego, CA)

18. Camarillo (Camarillo, CA)

19. Ontario (Ontario, CA)

20. Milpitas (Milpitas, CA) 21. State Street (Chicago, IL)

22. Stamford High Ridge (Stamford, CT)

23. Greenburgh (Greenburgh, NY)

24. Arundel (Hanover, MD)

25. Hawaii (Honolulu, HI)

26. Palm Desert (Palm Desert, CA)

27. Scottsdale (Scottsdale, AZ)

28. Phoenix (Chandler, AZ)

29. Eastchester (Eastchester, NY)

30. Bridgewater (Bridgewater, NJ)

31. Clarksburg (Clarksburg, MD)

32. Deer Park (Deer Park, NY)

33. Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury, NJ)

34. Elizabeth (Elizabeth, NJ)

35. Boston (Somerville, MA)

36. Wrentham (Wrentham, MA)

37. Orlando Vineland (Vineland, FL)

38. Naples Park Shore (Naples, FL)

39. Orlando (Orlando, FL)

40. Tampa (Lutz, FL)

41. Ellenton (Ellenton (Tampa), FL)

42. Destin (Destin, FL)

43. Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)

44. Atlanta (Woodstock, GA)

45. Hilton Head (Bluffton, SC)

46. Rosemont (Rosemont, IL)

47. Cypress (Cypress, TX)

48. Sugarland (Sugarland, TX)

49. Katy (Katy, TX)

50. Costa Mesa (Costa Mesa, CA)

51. Beverly Connection (Los Angeles, CA)

52. Woodland Hills (Woodland Hills, CA)

53. Las Vegas N (Las Vegas, NV)

54. Livermore (Livermore, CA)

55. San Antonio (San Antonio, TX)

56. Cabazon (Cabazon, CA)

57. Las Vegas S (Las Vegas, NV)

Last Call locations closing:

1. Sawgrass Mills (Sunrise, FL)

2. Desert Hills Premium Outlets (Cabazon, CA)

3. Grapevine Mills (Grapevine, TX)

4. San Marcos Premium Outlets (San Marcos, TX)

5. The Outlets at Orange (Orange, CA)

Update: April 7, 2026 — This story has been updated to include the latest number of Saks Fifth Avenue locations that will remain open.

• My daughter planned to attend Brown, an Ivy League school, but was rejected.
• She ultimately decided to attend Fordham, a school that had never been on her radar.
• At Fordham, she found her true passion and lower tuition, so I'm glad she never got into Brown.

"I'm glad my daughter was rejected from an Ivy League college," I told a friend recently.

Her daughter is a high school junior, currently in the thick of curating a list of reach schools. My friend was surprised by my words. I know I'm supposed to want the best college for my kid, but it's been years, and I see things differently now.

It's also that time of year when many high school students are hearing decisions from the colleges they applied to, so I thought back to when my daughter received her own news.

My daughter was rejected from Brown

Three years ago, my daughter applied to Brown University with early decision, meaning the commitment was binding. If she had been accepted, she would have gone there.

When she first applied, she knew the odds were slim. But the rejection was still disappointing for both of us. On paper and in person, it looked like a perfect fit.

Besides the allure of an Ivy League school with like-minded students, the college checked every box: It was only an hour from home, offered art classes at the prestigious RISD, and, best of all, had no core requirements.

She has always been a "free spirit" who doesn't like being required to take classes, especially when it comes to learning. Losing out on a school that aligned so well with her personality felt like a setback.

It reminded me of the time when my husband and I wanted to purchase a house, only to lose it to another offer.

Fordham crept to the top of my daughter's list

Fordham wasn't even on her radar during her college search, but now she's a junior there. It made the list because it was her twin brother's first choice.

Since he wanted to go there and she had a free application code, she figured, why not just add it to her Common App?

But even after she got in, she still wasn't interested and didn't want to tour the campus. I had to convince her to tag along since her brother was already planning to enroll.

Once she saw the beautiful grounds and the students in Fordham apparel, the college moved to the top of her list. Despite that intense core curriculum, she decided to join her brother.

My daughter is saving money by not going to an Ivy League school

I'll never know if she would have received financial aid at Brown, but since they don't offer many merit scholarships, she likely would have paid full price.

Because she was a high-achieving student at the top of her class, Fordham offered a large merit scholarship to entice her to enroll. It worked. Paying less in tuition means fewer student loans, and in the long run, that matters more than an Ivy.

She found her true passion at Fordham

Freshman year, she started as a biology major. The intense pre-med vibe wasn't what she had in mind for college. A core requirement English class ended up being a game changer.

She took a placement test before the semester started and qualified for an advanced class. After excelling in it, the department chair wrote her a letter to recruit her to the major. I imagine that kind of personal recognition is harder to come by at an Ivy League.

Switching to English also opened her schedule. Without the heavy lab requirements of a biology major, she had room to double as an art major, which is another subject she has always loved.

Her success in the major led her to apply for the selective creative writing concentration, which required submitting writing samples. When she found out she was accepted, knowing how competitive it was, she was really happy.

It all worked out for the best

Her senior-year schedule is already set. She's most excited about taking classes with two English professors she already knows, including the one who first recommended her to the department chair.

If you ask her, she's still not a fan of the core requirements. But she'll also tell you that the class she was required to take is the reason she's an English major.

That's what I'd tell my friend's daughter, too. The school that feels like a perfect fit on paper isn't always the one that changes your life. Sometimes the rejection is the best thing that can happen. Missing out on purchasing that house also meant we bought one we liked more.

As the saying goes, "When one door closes, another opens." In her case, as the Ivy door slammed shut, she just had to wait for the host to reveal what was behind Door Number Two: a better major, a lower tuition, and her twin brother. That's a win in my book.

• More than 1,500 US retail stores and restaurants are set to close by the end of 2026.
• Major chains, including Wendy's and Macy's, are citing efficiency as the reason behind the closures.
• Eddie Bauer is one of the latest companies to announce closures.

Retailers and restaurants are gearing up for another wave of store closures.

It's shaping up to be the continuation of a retail pullback that Business Insider tracked in 2024 and 2025. Major chains, from department stores like Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue to restaurant chains Pizza Hut and Wendy's, have already announced multiyear closure plans that extend into 2026, as have some niche stores.

Some companies, such as Macy's, are closing their physical stores to invest more resources into their online businesses.

In 2025, Business Insider tracked around 4,100 closures as of late December. Retail data and consultant firm Coresight Research predicted earlier in the year that roughly 15,000 retail locations would close in the year.

So far for 2026, Business Insider has identified more than 1,500 planned closures.

See the list of major closures below.

Francesca's: over 400 stores

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on February 5, apparel retailer Francesca's said it will conduct going-out-of-business sales at all of its roughly 400 stores across the US.

Francesca's previously filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 before being acquired by TerraMar Capital and Tiger Group.

"This process provides a structured path to pursue the best outcome for all stakeholders," Curt Kroll, CFO, said in a February statement about the bankruptcy. "We remain focused on operating responsibly and supporting our teams, partners, and guests throughout this process."

Wendy's: 300 stores

In a February 13 earnings call, Wendy's interim CEO Ken Cook said the company planned to close underperforming restaurants in the US, representing 5% to 6% of its roughly 6,000 locations. An estimated 5% of Wendy's restaurants would come out to around 300 locations.

Cook told investors to expect the closings to take place in the first half of 2026.

Pizza Hut: 250 stores

Restaurant chain Pizza Hut is set to close 250 underperforming stores in the US during the first half of 2026, its parent company, Yum! Brands, said in February. The reduction comes as part of a program to accelerate the Pizza Hut brand in the long term.

The company said that the 250 targeted closures are a fraction of the 20,000 locations that Yum! Brands operates globally.

Eddie Bauer: 175 stores

Nearly 200 North American Eddie Bauer storefronts are expected to shut down after the operating entity behind the stores failed to find a buyer during its Chapter 11 restructuring.

Liquidation sales have been underway at the 175 Eddie Bauer stores in the US and Canada.

Those store-closing sales are projected to wrap up before April 30, according to court filings in the company's bankruptcy case.

Carter's: 100 stores

Carter's, one of North America's biggest children's and baby apparel retailers, said in October that it plans to close 150 stores across the region over the next three years as leases expire, including about 100 by the end of 2026.

Macy's: 80 stores

In January 2025, Macy's said it planned to close 150 locations through 2026, allowing it to focus on its best-performing locations and online experience. After the closures are complete, about 350 Macy's stores are expected to remain. Macy's closed at least 66 stores in 2025.

Kroger: 60 stores

Grocery giant Kroger said in June 2025 that it planned to close 60 "unprofitable" stores across the US over the next 18 months. The company said in September that it had begun that process.

The company said in its last annual report that it operated 2,731 supermarkets in 35 states and Washington, DC, as of February 2025.

Saks Off 5th: 57 stores

Saks Off 5th, a luxury outlet retailer offering discounted designer brands, plans to close 57 stores in early 2026. It announced plans to close nine of those stores last year, and the rest were announced in January.

Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Off 5th, as well as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early January. The outlet's website, a separate legal entity, is also winding down operations.

In addition to the Saks Off 5th closures, Saks Global is closing five Last Call locations, the off-price Neiman Marcus stores.

Grocery Outlet: 36 stores

Supermarket chain Grocery Outlet is set to close 36 underperforming stores, representing about 6% of its fleet in 2026. CEO Jason Potter told analysts on March 4 that the company had identified stores that no longer had a "viable path to sustained profitability."

The closures come as the grocery chain has been expanding rapidly, particularly in Eastern states. The chain said in November that it planned to end 2025 with 37 new store openings. It plans to open another 30 to 33 net new stores in 2026, Potter said in the March call.

Of the 36 stores closing this year, 24 are located in the Eastern US. The closures make up about 30% of that region's stores, Potter said. He said Grocery Outlet won't be exiting any state completely.

"However, it's clear now that we expanded too quickly and these closures are a direct correction," Potter said.

Grocery Outlet saw a nearly $235 million operating loss and a more than $218 million net loss in its fourth-quarter earnings results.

Torrid: 29 stores

Torrid, a plus-size apparel retailer, told investors in March that it had previously identified 180 unproductive stores, of which it closed 151 locations by the end of 2025. CEO Lisa Harper said the company plans to close the remaining stores in the first half of 2026.

Torrid closed 11 locations in the first quarter of 2026, Harper said.

Allbirds: 23 stores

Shoe brand Allbirds said in January that it would close its remaining full-price stores in the US by the end of February. The company said the closures would enable it to dedicate resources toward its e-commerce business.

As of December 2025, Allbirds' US retail presence consisted of 23 stores.

"By exiting these remaining unprofitable doors, we are taking actions to reduce costs and support the long-term health of the business," said Joe Vernachio, CEO.

In March, Allbirds agreed to sell to American Exchange Group, a New York-based fashion and consumer goods company, for $39 million.

Yankee Candle: 20 stores

Newell Brands said in December 2025 that it would close 20 Yankee Candle stores in the US and Canada beginning in January 2026. The closures were announced alongside the reduction of its workforce by over 900 employees.

"This productivity plan is about taking the next, disciplined step to enhance efficiency, sharpen our strategic focus, and deliver stronger, more consistent performance," CEO Chris Peterson said in a press release.

Saks Fifth Avenue: 18 stores

After filing for bankruptcy in January, Saks Global announced a series of closures.

The first wave was announced in February, with the company saying it would optimize its Saks Fifth Avenue footprint by closing eight locations. In March, it announced that another 10 locations would close.

Those closures leave 15 Saks Fifth Avenue locations remaining.

Neiman Marcus: 4 stores

In addition to many Saks Fifth Avenue and Off Fifth locations, Saks Global closed four Neiman Marcus locations. The company announced one of the closures — a Boston store — in February and another three in March.

REI: 3 stores

REI confirmed to Business Insider that it plans to close three stores, starting with a location in New Jersey, in the first quarter of 2026. Its stores in New York City's SoHo neighborhood and Boston are set to follow in late 2026.

"As markets and customer needs evolve, we must adapt to position the co-op for long-term success," the company said in a statement.

Quatro companhias da bolsa brasileira pagam dividendos e juros sobre capital próprio (JCP) aos acionistas entre os dias 16 a 20 de março. 

Na segunda-feira (16), a Unifique realiza pagamento de dividendos de R$ 0,078 para a ação ordinária (FIQE3), com 29 de dezembro de 2025 como data de corte. 

Já na quarta-feira (18), a Gerdau paga dividendos de R$ 0,1oo, tanto para a ação ordinária (GGBR3) quanto para a preferencial (GGBR4), com base nos acionistas de 10 de março de 2026.  

Na quinta-feira (19), a Metalúrgica Gerdau paga dividendos de R$ 0,050 para a ação ordinária (GOAU3) a para a preferencial (GOAU4), tendo também 10 de março de 2026 como data de corte.

E na sexta-feira (20), uma empresa faz pagamentos.  

• Petrobras: dividendos de R$ 0,296 por ação ordinária (PETR3) e preferencial (PETR4), com base na posição de 22 de dezembro de 2025. 

• Petrobras: JCP de R$ 0,175 por ação ordinária (PETR3) e preferencial (PETR4), considerando os acionistas de 22 de dezembro de 2025.

*Datas e valores sujeitos a eventuais alterações das empresas