Small business felt a little better about the future in November according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses Optimism Index.  Hiring was up for the month but small business is still employing fewer workers than during the peak experienced in 2007. 

The price of raw sugar is in a 15 month slump as a supply glut grips the globe.  The oversupply may not end soon as the world’s three top producers, Brazil, India and Thailand, look to increase production 10% in 2014. The price of raw sugar has fallen for the last 10 trading sessions on the news. (Bloomberg)

Online shopping is up about 17.5% this holiday season compared to last year.  Mobile devices, pads and phones, made up 29% of all online shopping.  United Parcel Service picked up about 32 million packages on Cyber Monday, about a million more than last year.  (Associated Press)

That glass of orange juice you are drinking for breakfast may be getting more expensive.  The cold weather we have endured lately made its way to the orange growing regions of California.  It is harvest season and the cold may have damaged the remaining 80% of mandarin oranges and 75% of navel oranges that remain to be harvested. (Reuters)