Overall violent crime and property offenses declined slightly last year across much of the country, continuing a downward trajectory even as some communities battled disparate surges in violence, according to a new FBI report.

Robbery recorded the largest decline at 5.6%, and murder was down 0.5% in 2014, but rape and aggravated assault ticked up 2.4% and 2%, respectively, the report found. Property offenses dropped in each category: Burglary was down 10.5%, larceny-theft declined by nearly 3% and vehicle thefts declined by 1.5%.

The  FBI report comes as some cities  confront troubling increases in violence, prompting the Justice Department to call a meeting next month of law enforcement authorities “to explore what measures are working,” Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates said Monday.