Federal Judge Halts Kroger-Albertsons $25B Merger

A U.S. judge has blocked the $25 billion merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, siding with the Federal Trade Commission's argument that the merger would reduce competition and lead to higher prices. The decision is a victory for the Biden administration, which opposed the merger on antitrust grounds. Kroger argued the merger would lower prices through cost savings, but the ruling effectively halts the deal. The companies had proposed selling 579 stores to maintain competition, but the plan was not accepted.