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Limited-time promos are popping up across major chains this month

• Five Guys is offering a rare BOGO burger deal from March 1012, when you order through the app or website.

• Chipotle is offering a BOGO entre from 34 p.m. on Friday the 13th with a tattoo, while Shake Shack has a BOGO K-Shack promotion through March 16.

• Tropical Smoothie Cafe rewards members can get a free smoothie with purchase (March 915), Portillos has $1 cake slices with a $5 purchase, and Olive Gardens Buy One, Take One entre deal runs through May 3.

Several national chains are running limited-time March promotions that can score diners free food or deep discounts.

Here are some of the most notable deals right now.

Five Guys

This week, Five Guys is offering a BOGO deal where youll get a free burger with the purchase of any other burger.

• Deal runs March 1012.
• You must order through the Five Guys website or app.
• Use promo code FGAFTERPARTYat checkout.
• Get one free burger of equal or lesser value.
• Limit one redemption per account.

This promotion celebrates the chains 40th anniversary and is one of the rare discounts the brand offers.

Chipotle

Get a free entre at Chipotle on Friday the 13^th when you show a tattoo (real or fake) from 3-4 pm.

Here are the details:

• Free entre when you buy one and show some ink, fake or real (a Sharpie tattoo will work too).
• Valid in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, and Germany.
• Valid on Friday 3/13/26, from 3-4 pm local time only.

Don't overthink the tattoo.It's safe to assume they'll accept just about anything written on your body.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack is offering a BOGO deal on their K-Shack Korean menu.

• Use promo code SPICYSWEET at checkout.
• Valid through 3/16/26.

To qualify, you must add at least two of these items: K-Shack BBQ Burger, K-Shack Fried Chicken Sandwich, K-Shack Fried Chicken Bites, K-Shack Spicy BBQ Fries, K-Shack Spicy BBQ Cheese Fries, or the K-Shack Spicy Caramel Shake.

Krispy Kreme

This one is simple, weargreen and score a free green doughnutforSt. Patrick's Day.

• The deal happens onMarch 16th and 17th only.
• Wear something green in-person, or via the drive-thru, and get a freeGreen O'riginal Glazed doughnut.
• No purchase necessary.

Olive Garden

Olive Garden is offering a buy one entre in-person, and take another entre home for later, with prices starting as low as $14.99 for both entres.

• Valid for dine-in, to-go, and online ordering.
• Included entres are Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Angel Hair with Marinara, Four-Cheese Manicotti, Fettuccine Alfredo, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Lasagna Classico, and Chicken Parmigiana.
• Promotion starts 3/16/26 and runs until 5/03/26.

Deals like this tend to appear through email or the Olive Garden eClub, so signing up can unlock some surprise offers.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Rewards members can get a free smoothie every dayyes, every day, with purchase.

• Part of the chains Tropic Fan Fest.
• Rewards members get a free 24-oz smoothie.
• Must purchase a Tropic Bowl or food item.
• Limit one per day.
• Runs March 915.

Portillos

The folks at Portillos are offering a $1 slice of cake for rewards members, a small $5 purchase is required.

• Available to Portillos Perks rewards members.
• Buy $5 or more and get a $1 slice of birthday cake.
• Valid from March 915.

Thispromotionis celebrating the chains 63rd anniversary and the first birthday of its rewards program.

Oil price spike tied to conflict involving Iran raises fears of supply disruptions

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The nations average price of gasoline has risen 51.1 cents over the last week and stands at $3.45 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 12 million individual price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations nationwide.

• The national average is up 54.1 cents from a month ago and 41.6 cents higher than a year ago.

• The national average price of diesel jumped 85.9 cents in the last week to $4.599 per gallon.

U.S. motorists are facing one of the sharpest weekly increases in fuel prices in years as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East send shockwaves through global energy markets.

According to GasBuddy data, gasoline prices surged more than 50 cents per gallon in just a week after oil prices spiked following U.S. strikes on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for global oil supplies. The sudden escalation has injected significant uncertainty into energy markets and raised concerns about prolonged supply disruptions.

In just a week, consumers have seen gasoline prices surge at one of the fastest rates in years after oil prices spiked following U.S. strikes on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

With additional attacks across the Middle East over the weekend pushing oil above $100 per barrel for the first time in years, fuel markets are now rapidly recalibrating to the risk of prolonged disruption to global supply flows.

De Haan warned that prices may climb even further in the coming days. Gasoline prices in many states could rise another 20 to 50 cents per gallon this week, while diesel could jump by as much as 35 to 75 cents as global distillate markets react to the heightened risk.

Oil prices surge on Middle East tensions

Crude oil prices climbed over the past week as escalating tensions between Iran and Israel heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. Traders are particularly focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which a large share of the worlds oil shipments pass.

In early Monday trading, West Texas Intermediate crude rose $5.39 per barrel to $72.41, up from $66.85 a week earlier. Brent crude increased $6.42 to $79.29 per barrel compared with $72.08 last Monday.

Energy markets had already been supported by geopolitical concerns and inventory data earlier in the week, but the latest escalation added a new risk premium and increased volatility. Analysts say developments involving Iran, especially any threat to production or shipping routes, are likely to remain the primary driver of oil prices in the near term.

Mixed signals in U.S. fuel supply data

The latest Weekly Petroleum Status Report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows mixed trends in domestic fuel inventories.

U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 3.5 million barrels in the week ending Feb. 27 but remain about 3% below the seasonal average for this time of year. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve remained unchanged at 415.4 million barrels.

Gasoline inventories declined by 1.7 million barrels but are still roughly 3% above the five-year seasonal average. Distillate inventories which include diesel edged up by 0.4 million barrels but remain about 3% below typical seasonal levels.

Refinery utilization increased slightly to 89.2%, while implied gasoline demand fell by 442,000 barrels per day to 8.292 million barrels per day.

Gas price patterns across the country

Despite the rapid national increase, prices vary widely depending on location.

The most common price motorists encountered nationwide was $3.19 per gallon, followed by $2.99, $3.49, $3.29, and $3.39. The median U.S. gas price stood at $3.29 per gallon, about 16 cents below the national average.

Stations in the top 10% of prices averaged $4.93 per gallon, while those in the lowest 10% averaged $2.88.

The lowest average gasoline prices were reported in Kansas ($2.90), Oklahoma ($2.95), and Arkansas ($2.98). The highest prices were in California ($5.14), Washington ($4.58), and Hawaii ($4.33).

Several states saw particularly large weekly increases, including Indiana (+57.8 cents), Florida (+57.2 cents), Michigan (+55.3 cents), Ohio (+54.6 cents), and California (+51.1 cents).

Diesel prices spike even more

Diesel prices have climbed even faster than gasoline in the past week, reflecting tighter global distillate supplies and strong freight demand.

The most common diesel price nationwide rose to $4.99 per gallon, followed by $4.49, $4.69, $4.59, and $4.29. The median diesel price reached $4.59 per gallon, about six cents below the national average.

The lowest average diesel prices were found in Texas ($3.93), Kansas ($3.95), and South Dakota ($3.99). The highest averages were in California ($5.87), Washington ($5.46), and Hawaii ($5.18).

States experiencing the largest diesel price spikes included Texas (+$1.11), North Carolina (+$1.10), Tennessee (+$1.10), Georgia (+$1.07), and Mississippi (+$1.04).

With tensions in the Middle East continuing to evolve, analysts say motorists should brace for additional volatility at the pump in the weeks ahead as global energy markets react to the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.