Rising Gas Prices and Spring Break
Of course, prices at the pump have risen sharply in Florida, just as they have everywhere else in the world. However, refined oil shipped to South Florida comes mainly from Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama, via Port Everglades. There is therefore no risk of a shortage, but prices are following the global trend of rising oil prices, as Asian nations turn to markets other than the Middle East for their supplies.
Nevertheless, tourism remained very strong for Spring Break this year. Hotels in Greater Fort Lauderdale posted an 85% occupancy rate in March 2026, a 6% increase compared to last year. According to Amy Faulkner, director of sales and marketing at the Atlantic Hotel & Spa on A1A in Fort Lauderdale, “Knock on wood, I don’t see any cancellations. […] We were fully booked for Easter. I have seven groups coming in. I’m practically fully booked for April.”
Gas prices don’t seem to be deterring travelers yet, and motorists, including snowbirds driving their cars, continue to fill up, even if they’re looking for the cheapest stations.
For airlines, the situation is getting tense: Spirit Airlines’ difficulties could worsen amid rising fuel costs, and many have raised their baggage fees. Meanwhile, FedEx, UPS, and Amazon are also announcing significant price hikes for their services.
NEW WAYFAIR AT GALLERIA MALL
Wayfair’s very first brick-and-mortar store in Florida has been confirmed: the famous online furniture and home decor platform has reached an agreement with the Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale to open an 8,700-square-meter store by the end of 2027.
Spanning two floors, customers will find “products and decor inspiration that align with the region’s coastal aesthetic, indoor-outdoor lifestyle, and year-round entertaining. Many items will be available for immediate pickup, while larger pieces—such as sofas, dining sets, or outdoor furniture—can be delivered quickly and free of charge thanks to Wayfair’s state-of-the-art logistics network,” the company stated in a press release.
This project is part of the new owners’ ambitious renovation of the Galleria Mall, which includes plans to build 3,144 rental apartments spread across nine 30-story towers, about a third of which will be reserved for mall employees.
TRUMP LOSES CASE AGAINST THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
A federal judge dismissed the U.S. president’s lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch. Trump was seeking no less than… ten billion dollars from the newspaper, which he accused of publishing an article exposing his ties to Jeffrey Epstein in order to harm him. The judge ruled that the case lacked sufficient evidence of malicious intent but allowed Trump to file an amended complaint, which he intends to do.
In particular, the newspaper had published a suggestive, signed letter from Trump that appeared in Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday album. The U.S. Congress also released this letter shortly thereafter.
