Table 2. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates, by Area: Fourth Quarter 2001 Rental vacancy rates Fourth Fourth Standard Standard Area quarter quarter error on error on 2001 2000 2001 rate difference United States.......... 8.8 7.8 0.2 0.3 Inside MAs........... 8.4 7.5 0.2 0.3 In central cities.. 9.0 7.9 0.3 0.4 Not in central cities (suburbs).......... 7.8 7.1 0.3 0.4 Outside MAs.......... 10.5 9.5 0.5 0.8 Northeast............. 5.4 5.3 0.4 0.5 Midwest............... 10.3 8.7 0.5 0.7 South................. 11.5 10.8 0.4 0.5 West.................. 6.6 5.3 0.3 0.5 Homeowner vacancy rates Fourth Fourth Standard Standard Area quarter quarter error on error on 2001 2000 2001 rate difference United States.......... 1.8 1.6 0.1 0.1 Inside MAs........... 1.7 1.5 0.1 0.1 In central cities.. 2.0 1.9 0.1 0.2 Not in central cities (suburbs).......... 1.6 1.3 0.1 0.1 Outside MAs.......... 2.1 2.1 0.1 0.2 Northeast............. 1.2 1.2 0.1 0.2 Midwest............... 1.7 1.3 0.1 0.2 South................. 2.2 2.2 0.1 0.2 West.................. 1.7 1.4 0.1 0.2