Table 2. Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates, by Area: Fourth Quarter 1999 Rental vacancy rates Fourth Fourth Standard Standard Area quarter quarter error on error on 1999 1998 1999 rate difference United States.......... 7.9 7.8 0.2 0.3 Inside MAs........... 7.7 7.5 0.2 0.3 In central cities.. 8.2 8.0 0.3 0.4 Not in central cities (suburbs).......... 7.1 6.9 0.3 0.4 Outside MAs.......... 9.6 9.3 0.5 0.7 Northeast............. 5.3 6.1 0.4 0.5 Midwest............... 9.0 8.0 0.5 0.6 South................. 10.2 9.5 0.3 0.5 West.................. 6.1 6.6 0.3 0.5 Homeowner vacancy rates Fourth Fourth Standard Standard Area quarter quarter error on error on 1999 1998 1999 rate difference United States.......... 1.6 1.8 0.1 0.1 Inside MAs........... 1.5 1.7 0.1 0.1 In central cities.. 1.8 2.3 0.1 0.2 Not in central cities (suburbs).......... 1.4 1.5 0.1 0.1 Outside MAs.......... 2.0 1.9 0.1 0.2 Northeast............. 1.5 1.3 0.1 0.2 Midwest............... 1.0 1.5 0.1 0.2 South................. 2.0 2.1 0.1 0.1 West.................. 1.8 1.8 0.1 0.2