The results of each analysis are consistent with a clear single pattern that operates across the Nation's major urban areas. This supports the idea that a meaningful national trend exists, and it suggests the desirability of continuing efforts to explain it. This paper uses panel data from large U.S. cities to examine the degree to which urban crime rates conform to a single underlying pattern. The next section discusses the possible nature of the relationship between local and national crime trends, and also reviews the small theoretical and empirical literatures that have addressed the topic. The following sections present three analyses that attempt to measure the association between national and local rates. Each analysis finds that the correspondence between the rates is strong, perhaps even to a surprising degree. The final two sections consider the implication of these results, including possible directions for future research. Tables and references