Is Puerto Rico's time behind or ahead of the US's?

Answer 1

Ahead, mostly.

Puerto Rico is 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (first Sunday in November to the second Saturday in March)

Puerto Rico shares the same time as Eastern Daylight Time for the rest of the year.

The reason is Puerto Rico observes Atlantic Standard Time (GMT+4) and does not observe Daylight Saving Time. When clocks in the United States eastern time zone (GMT+5) "spring forward" an hour to observe daylight saving time (EDT-GMT+4) they are pushed forward to the same time as Puerto Rico.

For U.S. Central time, Puerto Rico is ahead two hours in winter, one hour in summer.

For U.S. Mountain time, Puerto Rico is ahead three hours in winter, two hours in summer (Except for most of Arizona which also does not observe Daylight Saving Time)

For U.S. Pacific time, Puerto Rico is ahead four hours in winter, three hours in summer.

Puerto Rico is ahead of Alaska five hours in winter, four hours in summer (except the western Aleutian Islands)

Puerto Rico is six hours ahead of the western Aleutian Islands in Winter and five hours ahead in summer.

Puerto Rico is six hours ahead of Hawai'i year-round.