Table 4.  Estimates of the Total Housing Inventory for the
                United States:  Fourth Quarter 1997 and 1996

(Estimates are in thousands and may not add to total, due to rounding)


                                    Fourth    Fourth   Standard
                                   quarter   quarter   error on  Standard     1997
Type                                 1997      1996      1997    error on   Percent
                                   estimate  estimate  estimate difference  of total

All housing units.................  115,892   114,555       237        336       100

  Occupied........................  102,624   101,264       246        348        89
    Owner occupied................   67,424    66,277       241        340        58
    Renter occupied...............   35,200    34,987       198        280        30

  Vacant..........................   13,268    13,291       131        185        11
    Year-round vacant.............   10,078     9,979       115        162         9
      For rent....................    2,966     2,950        64         90         3
      For sale only...............    1,187     1,146        40         57         1
      Rented or sold,
      awaiting occupancy..........      813       763        34         47         1
      Held off market.............    5,112     5,120        83        118         4
        For occasional use........    1,805     1,742        50         70         2
        Temporarily occupied
        by persons with
        usual residence elsewhere.      793       877        33         48         1
        For other reasons.........    2,514     2,501        59         83         2

    Seasonal vacant...............    3,190     3,312        66         94         3