Economic Divide - There is a perception of a growing economic divide in America, particularly between large corporations and small businesses, with large companies benefiting significantly from AI advancements while small businesses struggle [1][2] - Small businesses are facing challenges such as higher borrowing costs, cautious consumer spending, and economic pressures that disproportionately affect them [2][3] Small Business Performance - The percentage of unprofitable small companies in the Russell 2000 has decreased from 40% to 27%, indicating an improvement in the performance of smaller businesses [1] - Small businesses are expected to benefit from tax breaks and incentives, which may manifest positively in 2026 [1] Bankruptcy Trends - US small business bankruptcies reached a record 2,221 year-to-date as of mid-December, marking an 83% increase over the last five years [2] - The rise in bankruptcies reflects the economic pressures faced by small businesses, including the inability to negotiate prices with suppliers compared to larger corporations [2][3] Entrepreneurship and Investment - Entrepreneurship is reportedly at an all-time high, with younger generations seeking alternatives to traditional employment [5] - Access to the stock market is emphasized as a wealth-building opportunity, with 60% of adults participating in retirement programs that invest in the stock market [6][7] AI and Small Business Opportunities - Small businesses are beginning to leverage AI technologies, which can help them operate more efficiently and compete with larger firms [8][10] - The potential for small businesses to attract skilled employees from larger corporations during economic downturns is noted, which could enhance their operational capabilities [9]

Joining us right now is Kelly Leler, administrator of the Small Business Administration. And thank you so much for being here today, ad administrator. Let's talk a little bit about first what you're seeing in terms of the health of small businesses at this moment.>> Well, good morning, Becky. Great to be with y'all. Look, small businesses are more optimistic than they've been in seven years, according to the data.In fact, small business confidence is above its 52-year average even after a protracted 43-day ...

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I'd love to. If we may, Rick, start big and broad with you. The US economy, you have a great vantage point.How would you describe it right now. I think it's still very robust, to be honest. Now, you know, the data that I look at is obviously off of our properties, and our properties are growing in terms of attendance on a double digit basis year over year.So that's very strong. Our sales per square foot are continuing to grow at a very strong pace and we have a lot of demand for retail space. So retailers, ...

Website traffic is hanging by a thread in the AI search revolution. Small businesses need to adapt before it starts cutting their clicks too. (Illustration: Macy Sinreich for Forbes; Images by Pacharawi Imsuwan; Malte Mueller via Getty Images) https://t.co/sVPFVGubnd https://t.co/2PVug6gR88 ...