Table 2.  Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates, by Area:
           First Quarter 1996 and 1995 
                                                              
                                                             
                                                Standard    
                           First       First    error on    Standard
 Rental vacancy rates     quarter     quarter       1996    error on    
                            1996        1995        rate  difference   
                                                                      
                                                                     
 United States............  7.9         7.4         0.2         0.2 
                                                             
   Inside MAs.............  7.6          NA         0.2          NA
     In central cities....  8.0          NA         0.3          NA
     Not in central cities                                         
     (suburbs)............  7.1          NA         0.3          NA
   Outside MAs............  9.6          NA         0.5          NA
                                                                   
  Northeast...............  6.9         7.3         0.4         0.5
  Midwest.................  8.3         6.7         0.4         0.6
  South...................  8.5         8.3         0.3         0.4
  West....................  7.6         6.8         0.3         0.5
                                                                   
                                                                  
 Homeowner vacancy rates                                         
                                                               
 United States............  1.6         1.5         0.1         0.1
                                                                  
   Inside MAs.............  1.6          NA         0.1          NA
     In central cities....  2.1          NA         0.1          NA
     Not in central cities                                         
     (suburbs)............  1.3          NA         0.1          NA
   Outside MAs............  1.7          NA         0.1          NA
                                                                   
  Northeast...............  1.7         1.6         0.1         0.2
  Midwest.................  1.5         1.4         0.1         0.2
  South...................  1.6         1.6         0.1         0.1
  West....................  1.7         1.6         0.1         0.2
                                                                   
 NA Not available.  We are working to correct a problem with the
 first quarter 1995 metropolitan/nonmetropolitan data.  We will
 issue any revisions as soon as they become available.
   
Source: U.S. Census Bureau