SAN SALVADOR – Remittances from emigrants, most of them in the United States, fell 9.3 percent in the first 11 months of this year compared with the same period in 2008, El Salvador’s central bank said Thursday.

Salvadoran households received $3.13 billion from relatives abroad between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, down $321.7 million from last year’s level, the Banco Central de la Reserva said in a statement.

The BCR noted, however, that the decline in remittances has eased in recent months, “which indicates the beginning of the recovery.”

The promising trend was attributed to “the observed improvement in the United States economy” and to emigrants’ efforts to send extra money after their homeland was devastated last month by flooding and mudslides.

Caused by torrential rains associated with Hurricane Ida, the floods left some 200 dead and tens of millions of dollars in damage.

Remittances are a crucial source of revenue for El Salvador. EFE