Marketplace All-in-One Jet fuel prices soar as war continues
Mar 10, 2026
Megan McCarty Carino, a business and tech reporter, breaks down Oracle’s AI cloud results and investor worries about pricey data centers. Mitchell Hartman, a small-business reporter, explains rising owner uncertainty and NFIB sentiment. They also cover how Middle East conflict is pushing jet fuel and airfares up, and why airlines are responding unevenly.
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Small Business Confidence Hits Average With Rising Uncertainty
- Small business optimism dipped for a second month, but overall index sits near its 52-year average.
- NFIB flags business uncertainty at multi-decade highs due to inflation, tariffs, and the Iran war raising input costs.
Small Firms Hiring More While Costs Rise
- Small businesses face rising input and insurance costs while still expanding hiring, which creates a tension between costs and growth.
- Gusto reports nearly 106,000 net new small-business jobs in February, double the 12-month average.
Owner Rebuilt Service Model To Protect Community
- Owner Dylan Alverson made the pricing change to avoid isolating neighbors and to respond to violence and economic strain in Minneapolis.
- He removed prices from menus and POS, kept service the same, and reports increased hope and a sense of purpose beyond profit.