Santo Domingo.- After a fall in the number of new business openings in 2011, a slight rebound of 0.9% has taken that figure from 103,587 in 2011 to 104,483 from January to June this year, or 896 more.

During that period 9,975 businesses were created compared with 9,079 which closed their doors.

The Yellow Pages Economic Index cited by hoy.com.do reveals that 77.2% of new businesses are in the retail sector; 7% industries; 4.9% institutional or government; 4.7% financial; 2.6% construction 2% tourism; 0.9% automotive and 0.7 % others.

The total growth of businessess fell -6.9% in 2011, from (103,587) and rebounded to 111,289 in 2010. There were 100,653 registered businesses in the Yellow Pages In 2008, and 106,775 in 2009, a 6.% jump.

Most of the 9,079 businesses which closed from January to June this year are retail, a total of 7,654;  396 industries, 364 financial, 244 institutional; 89 construction, 33 tourism; 19 automotive and 280 in other sectors.

The Yellow Pages show that to June 54.7% of the new businesses opened are in Santo Domingo, 30.7% in the North, 8.5% in the East and 6.1% in the South.

The colmado (bodega) is the most common type of business nationwide with 10,910, followed by variety stores 4,610; attorneys offices 4,044; beauty salons 3,239; services or agencies 2,970; betting parlors 2,396; pharmacies 2,065; cafes 1,647; auto dealers and auto parts1,647; private schools1,637;  hardware stores 1,310, and auto repair shops 1,410.

As to new business sites the National District led with 33,022, followed by Santiago 14,310; Santo Domingo East 12,664; Santo Domingo West  9,014; Puerto Plata 3,272; La Vega 3,226, San Pedro de Macoris 3,030, La Altagracia 2,854, Santo Domingo North 2,677; San Cristobal  2,481, La Romana 2,068; Peravia 1,310 and San Juan 791.