Kroger reported a quarterly profit of $466 million and adjusted earnings per share of $0.93, surpassing analysts' expectations. Despite strong earnings, the company faces criticism for 'greedflation,' raising prices beyond inflationary pressures to maximize profits. The Biden administration and the FTC are challenging Kroger's proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons, fearing monopolistic conditions and job losses. Kroger's stock rose by over 6% following the earnings report, driven by better-than-expected same-store sales growth and a positive outlook for the second half of the year. The company has paused share repurchases to focus on reducing debt and maintaining strong free cash flow. Additionally, Kroger raised the lower end of its annual sales growth forecast due to strong customer trends and competitive pricing strategies.