According to their research the number of shipments from individuals (COD) is down a significant 26% from 2004.  It probably needn’t be said that the factors believed to have the greatest affect on the industry are the housing and jobs markets.

The rust belt and interestingly the Los Angeles area have been most affected and had the highest percentage of outbound versus inbound moves.  Conversely southern areas from east to west, and primarily North Carolina, generated the most interest and had the greatest percentage of inbound moves.

It’s no surprise that the trends of the moving industry mimic the greater trends of the US economy but it is an interesting indication of the cascading effects of the market meltdown.  However there is one last slightly more positive trend that average shipment size continued to see an increase.  So even though money is tight people continue to accumulate possessions.

What this means for individuals and families moving is that not only is there a greater likelihood that movers will be available on your preferred moving dates and you may also have an advantage to negotiate bigger discounts or included services.

1. Availability of your Mover
2. Price of your move
3. Quality of service

To prove my point, here is some data from the AMSA’s (American Moving & Storage Association) Industry Trends, a quarterly report on data in the moving industry.

Copyright AMSA 2009¹

Notice that big hump in the middle of the graph from June through August? That’s moving season. The percentage of moves in a year occurring in any given summer month peaks around 11% – 13%, compared to 8% or less for other months. The AMSA also had data on the percentage of moves in a year, broken down by weeks. Sure enough, every week that contained the last days of the month saw a jump in percentages of moves.

The takeaway here is that if you have the flexibility, avoid moving during the middle of the summer and at the end of the month. The further away from mid-summer / end of the month you can schedule your move, the better off you will be.

Reasons:
1. Availability of your Mover
The summer months are when moving companies make their money, so it’s a busy time for them. If you’re moving during the summer, you should contact moving companies early on (at least 2 months in advance) to ensure you can get in their books. As is with anything, the best ones will fill up first.

2. Price of your move
If you can avoid the peak season, the tariffs (the rates that moving companies base the cost of your move on) are actually lower, so you can save lots of money on your move.

3. Quality of service
Even the best moving companies come under pressure to perform when the season gets busy. Moving companies can overbook and have to scramble to find a truck and crew to service your move, or a tight schedule of back to back moves can be easily thrown off by a customer not being ready or other unforeseen events. Drivers and crew members are also tired from working long hours, and that could mean an increased chance of damage to your goods.

While we’re rapidly approaching mid-summer, don’t despair if you are moving during peak season this year. Simply knowing about the issues above means you can plan ahead – and good planning will go a long way in keeping your move smooth and problem-free.

Here are the data points I looked at:
Inbound = People moving in to a city
Outbound = People moving out of a city
Corporate (NAC, in moving lingo) = People whose move is paid for by their company
Household (COD, in moving lingo) = People paying for their own move

Most Popular Cities

Most Unpopular Cities

While I’m sure Detroit at the top of this list needs no explanation, California and New York cities might surprise you. However, these are simply reflections of the current economy with high unemployment rates expected for both states in 2009. Other factors include high prices of diesel and gas, conditions in the housing market (especially California), declining tax revenues and state budget deficits (again, California).

Corporate Moves (NAC) vs. Residential Moves (COD)

Lots of corporate in and corporate out:
Chicago, IL (53.0%, 50.5%)
Philadelphia, PA (52.0%, 51.4%)

Lots of residential in, corporate out:
Atlanta, GA (49.0%, 52.9%)
Dallas, TX (45.9%, 52.6%)

Lots of corporate in, residential out:
New York, NY (53.0%, 56.3%)
San Francisco, CA (51.0%, 56.1%)

Lots of residential in and residential out:
Phoenix, AZ (58.85%, 58.8%)

Again, we see New York and California with a big portion of corporate sponsored moves in to NYC and SF, along with lots of private residential moves out (presumably people who’ve had to move out because of the high cost of living and competitive job markets).

Atlanta and Dallas show popularity among residential moves, probably because they are a bit more affordable compared to the other major metropolitan areas.  Finally, Phoenix shows lots of  residential moves in and out, most likely due to its high senior population and affordable real estate.