Table 1. Absorption Rates for Unfurnished Apartments Completed by Geographic 
    Area: 1999
    (Privately financed, nonsubsidized, unfurnished, rental apartments in buildings 
    with five units or more.  Details may not sum to totals because of rounding.
    Percents are computed using unrounded data)
    
                                          Percent          Percent absorbed in:
                                              of       3         6         9        12
    Geographic areas             Total     total    months    months    months    months
    
    United States, total        225,900      100        72        89        95        98
     Inside metropolitan areas  214,500       95        72        89        95        98
      In central cities          93,200       41        73        89        95        98
      Not in central cities     121,200       54        72        89        95        98
     Outside metropolitan areas  11,400        5        69        86        93        96
    
    Northeast                    16,700        7        85        96        98        99
    Midwest                      27,500       12        73        88        95        97
    South                       124,200       55        69        86        94        97
    West                         57,500       25        74        92        97        99