The “Wall Street Journal” reported that the number of SBA guaranteed 7(a) loans was down 36% in fiscal 2009, totaling $9.3 billion, which was $3.4 billion less than the previous fiscal year. Reasons for the drop-off in SBA loans include scarce credit, and the riskier nature of small business loans, which hit a 12% failure rate in 2008, up from 2.4% in 2004, according to the Coleman report. Â Â SBA loans did rebound in September 2009, which the agency credited to stimulus measures, including an increase in the SBA’s maximum guarantee from 80% to 90% of the loan amount.
