Small Business Pulse: Citizens’ 2026 Business Pulse survey finds U.S. small firms ending the year with their strongest revenue optimism yet, with 54% expecting revenue to rise in the next three months. Policy & Wages: Philippines labor officials say small retail/service shops with fewer than 10 workers (or disaster-affected) can seek exemptions from wage hike orders, while barangay micro business enterprises are exempt from the Minimum Wage Law. AI for SMBs: Meta expands its Muse AI agent for small business workflows, adding more tool connections and aiming to help owners get work done inside platforms they already use. Local Growth Roadmap: A new Chicagoland report says the region’s small-business ecosystem has strengthened since 2018, but calls out gaps in turning support into sustained growth. Disaster Relief: SBA disaster loans are now available for Pine Ridge storm and flood recovery, with deadlines for physical damage and economic injury applications. Energy Costs: Georgia Gov. Kemp again suspends the state fuel tax as pump prices stay high, citing pressure on families and small businesses. Regulatory Shock: Oregon CBD retailers face closures after a federal law moves to ban most hemp-derived products.