Migration out of Michigan halts, moving data shows

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A new study by the nation's largest household moving company indicates that migration out of Michigan has finally slowed to a virtual halt. Suburban St. Louis-based United Van Lines released its 37th annual migration study to The Associated Press. The company tracks the states its customers move to and from over the course of a year, including Washington, D.C., but excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Michigan was about evenly balanced between inbound and outbound moves. The state had 16 straight years of outbound migration and was tops in outbound moves from 2006 through 2009. Oregon was the top moving destination for 2013, with 63 percent of interstate moves inbound. It had been runner-up for four straight years. Oregon was followed by the Carolinas -- South Carolina had the second-highest percentage of inbound moves, then North Carolina. South Dakota was fourth and the District of Columbia fifth. At the other end, New Jersey repeated as the state with the highest percentage of outbound moves, with 63 percent, followed by Illinois, New York, West Virginia and Connecticut. United Van Lines vice president Carl Walter said the moving data has traditionally identified states that are attracting or losing residents. The study showed that states in the West and Southeast are attracting more residents. Many states with high percentages of outbound moves are in the Northeast. University of California, Los Angeles economist Michael Stoll said in the United Van Lines' news release that business incentives, industrial growth and lower costs of living are attracting jobs and people to the West and Southeast. Published: Mon, Dec 30, 2013