*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).
A flow of recent data from the U.S. government has made one thing strikingly clear: A surge in consumer spending is fueling strong growth, demonstrating a resilience that has confounded economists, Federal Reserve officials and even the sour sentiments that Americans themselves have expressed in opinion polls.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning parents and caregivers not to buy or serve certain pureed fruit pouches marketed to toddlers and young children because the food might contain dangerous levels of lead.
Some pumpkin farmers in the West, particularly wholesalers in places like Colorado and New Mexico, are feeling the pinching effects of drought.
General Motors and the United Auto Workers union have reached a tentative contract agreement that could end a six-week-old strike against Detroit automakers, three people briefed on the deal said.
Apple's 8pm ET event Monday will revolve around its iMAC computer lineup of products which are expected to contain its new faster and three next-generation silicon chip.
McDonald's reported better-than-expected profit and sales in the third quarter.
Major stock indexes are slated to close lower this month as investors brace for the Federal Reserve's rate decision and ahead of new jobs data.
The Food and Drug Administration issued an alert and specifically mentioned 26 eye drop products from a number of brands.
Workers at a number of pharmacy chains nationwide were planning a walkout Monday and going through Wednesday.
President Joe Biden on Monday will sign a sweeping executive order to guide the development of artificial intelligence — requiring industry to develop safety and security standards, introducing new consumer protections and giving federal agencies an extensive to-do list to oversee the rapidly progressing technology.
