Traffic patterns throughout most of the Midwest remained unchanged. Michigan, however, experienced a big enough decline in inbound shipments to go from a balanced state to an outbound state. There were 33 percent more outbound than inbound shipments during 1998. That's a 23 percent increase over 1997. While there are pockets of notable swings in migration patterns, the data seems to indicate stability across much of the country.
Corporations move people to areas experiencing healthier economies.
Since the economy has been fairly stable throughout the country, we aren't seeing a major exodus like we saw during the early '90s when people left states like California and New York in droves. There's almost a balancing effect with respect to relocations. More states than ever before are seeing an equal number of outbound and inbound shipments. With a few exceptions, it appears that everyone is benefiting from the country's strong financial state. That balancing effect may be most evident in the Southeast.