Self-storage company Public Storage is buying National Storage Affiliates in an all-stock deal worth about $10.5 billion. National Storage has more than 1,000 properties, 69 million rentable square feet, and 550,000 units across 37 states and Puerto Rico. Public Storage said Monday that the acquisition will help expands its exposure to markets that are poised for strong long-term growth based on demographic trends, including the Sun Belt region.

Renters facing high costs are turning to "rent now, pay later" services like Flex, Livble, and Affirm. These services let renters split rent payments, which they say will help them manage cash flow. However, consumer advocates warn the products often act like short-term loans with high fees, sometimes leading to triple-digit interest rates. Kellen Johnson used Flex to split his $1,850 monthly rent into two payments when he worked as an independently contracted delivery person for Amazon. He paid over $33 monthly in fees. Critics argue these services don't solve the issue of affordability in the rental market and may lead to higher rents.

Central bankers from around the world have expressed full support for U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. This comes after President Donald Trump escalated his confrontation with the Fed by threatening criminal charges. The central bankers, including European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, emphasized the importance of central bank independence for economic stability. The dispute ostensibly centers on Powell's congressional testimony in June about renovation costs, but Trump has criticized Powell for not cutting rates faster. Economists warn that a politicized Fed could harm its credibility.

Nearly 30 years after Polly Chan moved to the Peninsula from Hong Kong, she and her husband felt they had achieved most of the American dream …