The week in money and markets: Retail M&A, rent inflation

This year’s hottest department store Christmas items are the stores themselves

There are some Christmas shopping lists out there with gifts so big they couldn’t fit under the tree at Rockefeller Center. Within a week of each other, the Macy’s and Neiman Marcus department stores received buyout offers worth nearly $9 billion combined. The Neiman Marcus proposal came first, with rival Saks Fifth Avenue offering $3 billion last week (December 1). This morning (Dec. 11), markets woke up to Macy’s getting a $5.8 billion private bid from a pair of investment firms. News of both offers was first report by the Wall Street Journal.—Melvin Backman | Read more

Blame your landlord for inflation’s stubborn persistence

Inflation is finally cooled down. Energy prices are lower. Food prices are softening. But the cost of having a place to live continues to rise much faster than just about every other necessity.—Melvin Backman | Read more

How One Woman Turned $10,000 into a Successful Business | Your wallet

Krissy Jones, founder of Sky Ting Yoga, tells Quartz tips and strategies for starting a small business.

Avoid small-cap and retail banks in 2024? | Smart investment

Ironsides Macroeconomics’ Barry Knapp tells Quartz the portfolio adjustments you need to make now to protect yourself by 2024.