RETAILING

FTC Approves Federated-Macy Merger: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission ended its review of the proposed merger of Federated Department Stores and R.H. Macy & Co., concluding that the planned deal should not be stopped on antitrust grounds. New York-based Macy--operator of the Macy’s, Bullock’s and I. Magnin chains--and Federated reached a tentative merger agreement July 13. Macy and Cincinnati-based Federated--operator of Bloomingdale’s--compete in some common markets such as Georgia, Florida and New York. The state attorney general in New York is still reviewing the merger plan for possible antitrust implications and has not announced a decision.