Business starts hit their highest levels since ’78.

Starts increased 1.4% to 102,329 from 100,868 in 1983, according to Dun & Bradstreet. The 1984 total was achieved despite a 4.7% decrease in fourth-quarter business starts, compared to the total for 1983’s fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter of 1984, a total of 32,694 new businesses were recorded, compared to 34,296 in 1983.