Over the last year the recession has hit cities hard, and put a decade of urban renaissance on hold. Unemployment has risen sharply, particularly among young people. The cities hit hardest have been those with lowest skills, and employment in exposed sectors. The priority for the next year needs to be to get the UK back on a path to balanced growth and economic resilience. Strengthening cities' roles as centres for business and jobs needs to be based on an understanding of the economic roles of different places.