The U.S. Small Business Administration approved 335 loans for $43.8 million in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during the first six months of fiscal year 2016, a 19 percent and six percent increase, respectively, over approvals during the same period in 2015, the agency said Wednesday.
Puerto Rico retail sales started 2016 in a slump, reflecting a 3.71 percent year-over-year drop in January, or $113.3 million less than what was generated during the same month in 2015, Puerto Rico Trade and Export reported Wednesday.
A lineup of new retail tenants is opening at two Puerto Rico malls, Plaza del Caribe in Ponce and The Mall of San Juan in the metropolitan area.