From 2005 until 31 July 2007, 11,255 new small businesses were opened. During the same period 2, 673 small businesses closed down. This news comes from the Yellow Pages’ Economic Index (IEPA) but the reasons for the closures are not given. Pharmacies were, by far, the category where the largest number of new businesses opened, closely followed by automobile dealers and parts suppliers. The fewest new business openings were in commercial banking and photocopier sales and services. According to Listin Diario, although the report does not specify the causes of the closures, reporter Jairon Severino says that the three tax “reforms” and the new controls put into place by the Tax Office (DGII) with the NCF numbers are possible causes. The article says that nearly 500 call centers have closed down.