Apartment rental rates nationwide rose in March, the first increase since last summer, according to data released Tuesday.
The average rent last month was $1,371, a $4 increase from February, Santa Barbara-based Yardi Matrix reported in it monthly analysis of the U.S. multifamily market.
Year-over-year, rents grew 2.5 percent but dropped 10 basis points, a small decline, from February. Apartment rates have been declining since they hit a 5.4 percent year-over-year increase during the first quarter of 2016.
The Inland Empire recorded a 7.7 percent rent increase in March, behind Orlando at seven percent and Las Vegas at 5.2 percent. Phoenix, with a 4.3 percent increase, was virtually tied with the Inland region.
Submarket rental rates were not available.