Businesses Being Started at Faster Rate

California is having a strong year for business start-ups, and Irvine and Newport Beach are leading the way, according to the Santa Ana information services firm CDB Infotek.

A total of 32,962 new businesses were incorporated in California from January through July, a 7% increase from the first seven months of 1996 and the highest number for the period in eight years, the firm reported.

In addition to the two Orange County cities, sharp growth in new businesses also occurred in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose and San Diego, CDB said.

Patrice Apodaca covers economic issues for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-5979 and at patrice.apodaca@latimes.com