Healthcare Trust of America Inc. has acquired a medical office building on the St. Joseph’s Hospital campus as part of a $20.5 million, three-building deal with Brentwood, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems Inc. The other two buildings are in Texas.

Mark Engstrom, executive vice president for acquisitions, said the local building at 750 Broadway is 100 percent leased to St. Joseph Health System. The landlord “wouldn’t change the use of the building,” he said.

Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Healthcare Trust has invested in medical office buildings, hospitals and nursing homes in 20 states. The real estate investment trust owned 154 buildings and two real estate-related assets as of Dec. 2.

Consumer borrowing falls for 9th month

Americans borrowed less for a record ninth straight month in October, another sign that consumer spending will remain weak, making it harder for the economy to mount a sustained rebound.

Consumer credit fell at an annual rate of $3.51 billion in October, the Federal Reserve said Monday. Economists expected a $9.3 billion decline.

Demand for revolving credit, the category that includes credit cards, fell 9.3 percent, but borrowing in the category that includes auto loans rose at an annual rate of 2.6 percent.

Hasbro wins deal for Sesame Street toys

Elmo is getting a new home – or his toys are, at least.

Toy maker Hasbro Inc. said Monday it will make and market toys and games based on well-known Sesame Street characters, such as Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster.

The deal takes the license away from Hasbro rival Mattel Inc., which makes Sesame Street toys under its Fisher-Price brand under a deal lasting until 2010. Hasbro will start making the products in 2011.

Financial terms of the deal between Hasbro and Sesame Workshop were not disclosed.

NBC: More cash going to broadcast shows

NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker says the company is putting more money into its network broadcast programming, calling it a “mistake” that it hadn’t invested more over the past few years.

The fourth-place NBC network, along with the company’s movie studios and stable of cable channels, would change hands from General Electric Co. to Comcast Corp. if the companies’ multi-billion-dollar deal goes through.

Speaking Monday at the UBS media conference in New York, Zucker said NBC is confident ratings will improve with more money for developing shows.

But he conceded, “We haven’t done a good enough job.”

Home Depot to launch Martha Stewart paints

The Home Depot Inc. will start selling Martha Stewart-branded paint and cleaning products next year in addition to the home decor and closet organization lines announced in September, the nation’s largest home improvement retailer said Monday.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.’s deal with Kmart ends in January. Home Depot said it will start selling the Martha Stewart cleaning products in January, with home decor and closet organization lines to follow. The Martha Stewart paint line, which will replace Home Depot’s line of Ralph Lauren paint, is set to appear in March.