Mountain State Times

U.S. shoppers have shown strong support for independent businesses, spending an estimated $17.9 billion on Small Business Saturday. This amount surpasses the $9.12 billion spent online during Black Friday and the record $11.3 billion on Cyber Monday.

A survey conducted by American Express revealed that 72% of shoppers intend to continue supporting local businesses throughout the holiday season due to their positive impact on communities.

American Express expressed optimism that small business owners will convert these seasonal customers into regular patrons who continue shopping locally beyond the holiday period. According to American Express, "68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the community and creates an additional 48 cents in business activity as small business owners and employees shop and dine in the community."