Axios

Honda and Nissan face a litany of difficult decisions about their competing vehicles and overlapping U.S. manufacturing jobs if they move forward with a merger.

Why it matters: A combination of Honda and Nissan — formerly fierce competitors — would create the world's third-largest automaker by vehicle sales behind Toyota and Volkswagen.

Holiday shoppers are spending a record amount this year on gifts despite the shorter shopping season and inflation concerns.

The big picture: Shoppers are projected to spend between $979.5 billion and $989 billion during the Christmas season, per an annual survey from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

American consumers are not feeling the holiday cheer: concerns about what's ahead for the economy shot up as tariffs loom, according to a barometer of consumer confidence released on Monday.

Why it matters: The post-election bump in consumer confidence in November now looks like a blip, at least by one measure.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit against Walmart and its fintech partner, Branch Messenger, over a worker payment program that allegedly forced last-mile drivers to open costly deposit accounts to get paid.

Why it matters: The CFPB is issuing a flurry of enforcement actions and rules proposals in the waning days of the Biden administration.

Christmas is a day when the majority of the nation's largest retailers and restaurants keep their doors closed with few exceptions.

Why it matters: Your options are limited Wednesday whether you need a last-minute gift, forgotten Christmas cookie ingredient or want to dine out.

Nordstrom will be taken private by members of its founding family and El Puerto de Liverpool of Mexico, the company announced Monday.

Why it matters: The deal values the luxury department store retailer founded in 1901 at $6.25 billion, ending a nine-month saga and giving Nordstrom a chance to right the ship as a private entity.

More than 9.1 million Texans will travel 50 miles or more before the new year, per AAA. 

Why it matters: A record 119 million Americans are projected to travel for Christmas and the New Year, narrowly surpassing the previous record set in pre-pandemic 2019. 

State of play: More Texans are traveling this year than last year, but this holiday period's travel is still expected to be 4% lower than in 2019, per AAA. 

• Most travelers will be hitting the road, but air travel in Texas is projected to increase 8% this year compared to last. 

The intrigue: The number of Texans traveling by bus, train or cruise for the holiday is up 8.8% compared to last year and up 5.5% from 2019. Those are the only types of travel in Texas to surpass pre-pandemic levels. 

The Container Store filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday, following months of weakening sales and mounting debts.

Why it matters: It becomes the third national retailer in the last three days to either go bankrupt or decide to liquidate entirely.

If home improvement projects are on your 2025 to-do list, here are some expert tips to help make achieving your goals a little easier.

2025 may bring more homes, but with familiar high prices.

Why it matters: Many people will remain locked out of homeownership. 

The Biden administration said on Monday it launched an investigation into China's semiconductor sector, which officials claim threatens U.S. national security.

Why it matters: It is a first step toward possible measures, like tariffs, that might seek to squeeze China-made chips out of U.S. products. But with one month left in office, the fate of the investigation — and the ultimate remedies — rests with President-elect Trump.

Fearing political retribution and strained by new business challenges, media companies that once covered President-elect Trump with skepticism — and in many cases, disdain — are reconsidering their approach.

Why it matters: Trump's decisive victory in November has forced media executives to put their business interests ahead of their personal politics.