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December Retail Monitor data saw a sharp surge in growth as consumers continued prioritizing holiday spending on family and friends.

Retail sales saw strong year-over-year growth in November, with the first half of the holiday shopping season putting results on track to meet the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) spending forecast, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor.

The holiday shopping season is a make-or-break period for specialty retailers. While the giant online marketplaces compete on price and logistics, your small business has the invaluable advantage of personal connection, curation and community. Our holiday prep guide breaks down the essential steps to ensure your small business is not just ready for the rush, but poised to thrive.

The NRF Retail Monitor found that consumer spending slowed on a monthly basis in September after a busy summer but year-over-year increases remain strong as retailers prepare for the holiday season.

The way consumers find and research products online is fundamentally changing, evolving into a complex, multi-platform process influenced by social media, artificial intelligence (AI) and new search technologies. This shift is reshaping consumer behavior and forcing brands to re-evaluate their digital strategies.

The National Federation of Independent Business published its July report, which found that small businesses are experiencing better business conditions, leading to a rise in overall optimism.

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index found that small business optimism increased in May. However, uncertainty is still high among small business owners.

The House Ways and Means Committee has introduced a legislative framework that would make the 199A tax deduction permanent, increasing the deduction from 20% to 22%, and making an enhanced estate tax exemption permanent — providing much-needed certainty and stability to America’s family-owned businesses.

A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers, commissioned by DRINKS and conducted by Dynata, found that 49% of 21-34-year-olds would be likely to purchase alcohol from their favorite online retailers if they started offering e-commerce versus their traditional alcohol retailer.

FedEx Corporation is launching a new service called FedEx Easy Returns, supported by Blue Yonder. This offering will allow FedEx customers to access a low-cost, box- and label-free returns solution launching with approximately 3,000 drop-off locations in the network of FedEx Office and Kohl’s stores in the summer, with additional expansion plans across the U.S. later.