First-quarter stats from RealFacts show average rents at O.C.’s largest apartment complexes rising 6% in a year. That’s a slight drop from the 7% rate of the previous year. Interesting to note that the slowing rent hikes are across the board. Among the largest declines are the larger units, perhaps a sign of economic skittishness and/or competition from empty and unsold residences. Here’s a look at first-quarter average rents; change in a year; and change in 2005-06’s first quarter …

“It’s slowing. It definitely is slowing, and it’s happening nationwide,” USC professor Delores Conway tells the Register’s Jeff Collins. She says O.C. apartment demand has dropped off and occupancy is starting to decline slightly and there are some new apartments on the market, though not much. And, although apartments are being converted to condos, some of those units are being leased. “That gives you a new supply of rentals in that market.”