New York, Nov. 10, 2016 — As businesses gear up for the holiday season, they are optimistic about sales and predict growth for the next quarter and into 2017, according to the American Express (NYSE:AXP) Holiday Growth Pulse, a survey of 1,502 small and middle market businesses across a variety of industries. Specifically in the retail industry, nearly six in ten (59%) small business retailers think holiday sales will be stronger compared to last year, and 34% think they will be roughly the same as last year. Small business retailers (companies with fewer than 100 employees and annual revenues of $250,000 or greater) are not alone in their positive outlook – 81% of middle market retailers (companies with $10 million to $1 billion in annual revenues) also feel sales will be stronger than last year.