The 2017 edition of the Eurostat regional yearbook provides a taste of the wide range of regional statistics available for the 276 NUTS level 2 regions (or even 1 342 NUTS level 3 regions for some indicators) of the 28 Member States of the EU as well as, when available, in EFTA and candidate countries. The publication opens with an overview of regional policies in the EU and European Commission priorities at subnational level. Economic and business related statistics are covered in three chapters: 'Economy', 'Structural business statistics' and 'Research and innovation'. It also presents regional data for specific sectors and economic activities. Finally, the publication closes with two new focus chapters: one on 'Cities', focusing on population, transport and the environment, and another on 'Rural areas', which displays specific data on poverty and social exclusion, housing, health, education, the labour market and the digital society and economy.