NEW YORK (AP) — The holidays are the busiest time of year for many small retailers and other businesses. But the holidays this year could be particularly challenging. Although inflation has retreated, small businesses are still dealing with high costs and consumers have been tightening the purse strings, too. And a longshoreman strike that kicked off Tuesday could cause shipping delays that could put a major wrench in retailers’ plans if it isn’t resolved quickly. Stepping up marketing is one...

As the temperature heats up and summer approaches, small business owners may be considering offering summer hours, such as an early release on Fridays, for employees to help combat burnout. According to a May report by the Society for Human Resource Management, 44% of 1,405 surveyed U.S. employees feel burned out at work, 45% feel “emotionally drained” from their work, and 51% feel “used up” at the end of the workday. And since it’s harder for small businesses to offer better pay and benefits...