*By Tracey Cheek*
Big-name chains may dominate Black Friday ー but according to American Express, 80 percent of consumers plan to shop or dine small on Small Business Saturday this year.
According to Walter Frye, Vice President of global brand content and engagement at American Express (AXP), small businesses not only are good for the larger economy, but also healthy for local communities.
"Small businesses are what make our communities unique and vibrant," Frye said. "When small businesses thrive, communities thrive."
"When consumers spend a dollar in their communities and small business, 67 cents of that dollar stays in that community," Frye said.
According to the "2018 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey" by American Express, 91 percent of consumers think it's more important than ever to support small businesses this holiday season.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-importance-of-small-business-saturday).
Business research group The Conference Board said that its consumer confidence index increased two months in a row.
Grant Buckholt, financial adviser with Northwestern Mutual, joined Cheddar News to discuss what exactly a holiday bonus entails and provided tips on how to budget it.
New car sales in the U.S. are forecasted to grow next year.
Many of us will look to chart a path to tackling finances as the New Year arrives. Jamila Souffrant, author of "Your Journey to Financial Freedom," joined Cheddar News to discuss steps on what to take if you're looking to take control of your life for financial freedom.
If you're looking to upgrade your home entertainment system, Vizio may have you covered, especially this holiday season. Phil Schneider, head of device sales with Vizio, spoke with Cheddar News about what's currently in demand.
There are reports that Warner Brothers Discovery and Paramount have held talks to join forces. Cheddar News breaks it down to discuss what this could mean for the media landscape and for viewers.
Thursday kicks off the busiest holiday travel period of the year.
SiriusXM is facing a new lawsuit for allegedly trapping customers into subscription plans.
IKEA says it expects shipping delays and other product availability issues due to ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
There are multiple reports that talks are underway for a potential merger of Warner Brothers Discovery and Paramount Global.
