Worth magazine has ranked Lower Broadway stalwart Merchants Restaurant on its annual list of the Top 10 Power Lunch Restaurants. Read more here.

Ingram Content Group has teamed up with a large Indian publishing house on a joint venture that will bring its VitalSource e-textbook platform to the world's second-most populous country. Ingram-B.i. is looking to take advantage of a higher education sector that is expected to nearly triple to 40 million students by 2020.

“India, by far, is the most exciting growth market for English language textbooks in the world today," said Shashank Bhagat, Chairman of the Bi Group. "The market in India is ripe for media-rich interactive learning experiences. With Ingram's VitalSource Bookshelf platform, and the local market reach of the Bi Group, students at India’s top universities, colleges, and corporate training programs will have access to the newest and most relevant digital content and learning tools that are available today."

The average per-gallon price of regular gas in Tennessee was $3.33 as of yesterday, a decrease of nine cents compared to the figure from the previous week, according to AAA.

This marks the seventh straight week the state has seen prices, on average, dip. Previously forecasted expectations that motorists in the Southeast would pay upwards of $4 a gallon this month are now being adjusted.

Fuel prices decreased further after the U.S. Commerce Department reported retail sales dropped in March and a report showed consumer sentiment is at a nine-month low, AAA reports.

At this time last year, retail gas prices were climbing their way to the year’s peak average of $3.94 nationally. During April 2012, motorists paid more than $3.80 a gallon for regular retail gasoline. As of Sunday, the national average price was $3.53, a seven-cent per-gallon decrease. More specifically, and to compare to Tennessee, Georgia’s per-gallon average of $3.40 decreased six cents.

In Nashville, the average per-gallon price of regular gas was $3.36 as of Sunday, a drop of six cents compared to the figure from the previous week. (See chart below.)

Fuel demand has lagged since the start of the year, causing both OPEC and the Energy Information Administration to cut their global oil demand outlook for the year, AAA reports. This comes at a time when U.S. oil output is at a 20-year high and supplies are plentiful.

"Oil and gas prices will likely continue on this downward trend until stronger economic figures are reported,” Jessica Brady, AAA spokeswoman, The Auto Club Group, said in a release. “Although the economic news is less than great, motorists will welcome the falling gas prices as the summer driving season begins.”

A barrel of oil closed Friday at $91.61 on the New York Mercantile Exchange — $1.09 cents less than the mark from the week prior.

Four Vanderbilt University students have been named among the winners of the Social Venture Challenge hosted recently by The Resolution Project nonprofit and the Clinton Global Initiative University. The contest drew more than 300 social entrepreneurship ideas from around the world. The Sustainabears concept by Michael O'Connor, Jim Jin, Shilpa Mokshagundam and Maryli Cheng calls for polystyrene foam to be repurposed as teddy bear packaging.

The Resolution Project has already awarded 63 Resolution Fellowships to young social entrepreneurs with ventures across the globe aimed at tackling some of today’s toughest challenges. Today’s SVC winners will join this Fellowship program, which provides students with seed funding to launch their social ventures, hands-on mentorship and robust support from a team of more than 200 Resolution volunteers, and access to Resolution’s global network of young social entrepreneurs.

Check out the full release here and the Sustainabears Facebook page here.

Standard & Poor's has hiked its rating of Dollar General's debt to BBB- after the discount retailer overhauled its debt profile. Analyst Ana Lai said Dollar General is poised to maintain its lead among deep discounters even though its profit growth slows as it builds out its store network. (Chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling also has said the top line and market share will trump margins for now.) Shares of Dollar General (Ticker: DG) are up 14 percent year to date.

The analysts at Cowen & Co. says Delek US Holdings remains an attractive long-term play on the rise of oil exploration in the central United States. They last week raised their price target for the Brentwood-based company to $42 from $30. Delek shares (Ticker: DK) closed Friday at $37.88 and are up almost 50 percent so far this year.

New Back Yard Burgers boss Dave McDougall is counting on a 1/3-pound Angus patty burger to help revive the chain's flimsy financials. The introduction of the Bigger, Better Burger is being accompanied by the return — at the behest of diners — of Back Yard's seasoned fries.

“It’s always a challenge to adequately communicate and promote the uniqueness of a food offering as common as the burger,” says, Monte Jump, CMO. “But we think we’ve captured the size, taste and freshness of the Bigger, Better Burger in our newest TV spot, and we are looking forward to extending special offers for the launch to our guests through our eClub and print support in the marketplace.”