Table 2. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates, by Area: Third Quarter 2002 Rental vacancy rates Third Third Standard Standard Area quarter quarter error on error on 2002 2001 2002 rate difference United States.......... 9.1 8.4 0.2 0.3 Inside MAs........... 8.7 8.0 0.2 0.3 In central cities.. 9.5 8.8 0.3 0.4 Not in central cities (suburbs).......... 7.8 7.1 0.3 0.4 Outside MAs.......... 11.0 10.4 0.5 0.7 Northeast............. 6.0 5.5 0.3 0.5 Midwest............... 10.3 9.3 0.4 0.6 South................. 11.6 10.8 0.3 0.5 West.................. 6.9 6.6 0.3 0.5 Homeowner vacancy rates Third Third Standard Standard Area quarter quarter error on error on 2002 2001 2002 rate difference United States.......... 1.7 1.9 (z) 0.1 Inside MAs........... 1.6 1.7 0.1 0.1 In central cities.. 2.2 2.3 0.1 0.2 Not in central cities (suburbs).......... 1.3 1.5 0.1 0.1 Outside MAs.......... 2.0 2.4 0.1 0.2 Northeast............. 1.2 1.3 0.1 0.2 Midwest............... 1.7 1.8 0.1 0.2 South................. 1.9 2.3 0.1 0.1 West.................. 1.6 1.7 0.1 0.2 (z) Less than 0.05.