@cnbc: A U.S. judge blocked the pending $25 billion merger of U.S. grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons on Tuesday, siding with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in a win for the Biden administration. The FTC argued at a three-week trial in Portland, Oregon, that the merger would eliminate head-to-head competition between the top two traditional grocery chains, leading to higher prices for shoppers and reduced bargaining leverage for unionized workers. Kroger fought those claims, saying the deal would bring prices down, particularly at Albertsons stores, where it said prices are 10-12% higher than at Kroger stores. Find more details at the link in bio.