Holiday Plans Suggest Good Economic Times

It looks like small businesses in the U.S. think things are going well for them -- well enough to do a little more for their employees this holiday season:

"Small-business employees should find more to celebrate this holiday season, according to the 2004 Small Business Monitor by OPEN from American Express. The survey found that more business owners are planning to celebrate the holiday season with their employees this year (82% vs. 78% in 2003). Among these business owners, 53% say they plan to hold a holiday party; 51% report plans to give year-end bonuses and 47% plan to give time off to employees."

American Express's OPEN also offers suggestions for employee holiday gift-giving in this press release.