Couche-Tard

Convenience-store chain 7-Eleven offered $2 billion to acquire competitor Casey's General Stores, topping a hostile bid by Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard

Since April, major convenience store operator Couche-Tard has been trying to buy regional player Casey's General Stores. Casey's board rejected a hostile $1.9 billion offer on Tuesday -- but don't expect that to stop Couche-Tard, which operates the Mac's and Circle K chains.

By now, we've heard all the advice about weathering the recession. And by many measures, the message seems to have sunk in: Americans are weaning themselves off their credit cards and increasing the amount of money they save. All this progress is well and good, but it also begs the question: Why on...