People are still moving away from states whose economies rely heavily on hard-hit industries such as manufacturing and automobiles, according to the 2008 Migration Patterns study conducted by Atlas Van Lines. Midwesterners especially continue to relocate in large numbers to places with warmer climates and brighter economic prospects. The Northwest and Southwest remain attractive destinations, while Rust Belt states continue to lose more residents than they gain.

Atlas' annual study also found that Washington, D.C., had the highest percentage of inbound traffic for the third year in a row, while Ohio had the highest percentage of outbound traffic for the second year in a row.