For our Economic Pulse series, we’re taking a closer look at essential workers’ experiences during the height of the pandemic.

Albertsons is giving up on its merger with Kroger and it is suing the grocery chain, saying it didn’t do enough to secure regulatory approval for the $24.6 billion agreement.

But would a new FTC chair under President-elect Donald Trump take a different view of the merger between the two grocery store companies?

The challenged merger between Kroger and Albertsons hinges on what is considered a supermarket.

The FTC says the combination would not only lead to higher consumer prices, but set back workers’ bargaining prospects.

Washington state is suing to block the supermarket deal and the FTC and several state attorneys general have raised antitrust concerns.

The companies’ plans have drawn skepticism from trade unions, consumer advocate groups and Colorado’s attorney general.

Kroger would become a bigger competitor against giants like Walmart, giving it more bargaining power over suppliers.

It’s all about delivery.

The grocery chain is teaming up with “restaurants” that only do delivery and take-out.