Mark Dolliver: Party Animals

Party animals will be glad to hear that 90 percent of U.S. companies intend to host a holiday bash this year. In fact, a survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas finds 38 percent of those planning a party will raise its budget from last year’s. Just 12 percent expect to spend less this year. You might need to stick a flask in your pocket, however, as fewer than half the companies polled (46 percent) said they’ll be providing alcoholic beverages, down from 60 percent last year.