PHOENIX, March 31, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U-Haul International, Inc., North America's number one choice for do-it-yourself movers, today released the results of the annual U-Haul National Migration Trend Report, reflecting the nation's top growth states for families who moved during 2008. The report, "2008 Top 10 U.S. Growth States," indicates that for states with more than 20,000 families moving, Washington had the highest percentage of growth, with 6.98 percent more families moving into the state than out. For states with 5,000 - 20,000 families moving, Maine had the highest percentage for the second year in a row, with a growth of 16.28 percent in 2008, with Delaware taking second place for the second year in a row.
"The average American moves 11 times in a lifetime," explained U-Haul President of Phoenix Operations John "J.T." Taylor. "Our customers rely on us to provide affordable services, and we are proud to be able to offer families who need moving services the increased convenience of our locations, which makes for a shorter distance to travel when moving. This not only makes their move easier but also has the positive effect of reducing the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere."
The report, reflective of growth patterns of the United States during 2008, was compiled based on nationwide trends in states with more than 5,000 families moving in or out of the area. Growth was then determined by calculating the percentage of inbound moves vs. outbound moves for each state.
The 2008 Top 10 U.S. Growth States Report was compiled from more than 1 million U-Haul one-way truck transactions occurring between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2008.
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the undisputed choice for the "do-it-yourself" mover, with a network of more than 15,650 locations in all 50 United States and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the Company to maintain a fleet size of 96,000 trucks, 75,000 trailers and 35,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 395,000 rooms and more than 34 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,075 owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the consumer's number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard barbecues as one of the nation's largest retailers of propane.
Note to editors: The annual mileage of North American U-Haul trucks, trailers and tow dollies would move a family to the moon and back more than 20.5 times per day, every day of the year. The annual mileage of North American U-Haul trucks, trailers and tow dollies would travel around the Earth 194 times per day, every day of the year.
The U-Haul International, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5134
U-Haul Top 8 U.S. Growth States*
January - December 2008
With More Than 20,000 Families Moving
RANK STATE %GROWTH
1 WASHINGTON 6.98%
2 TEXAS 6.27%
3 OKLAHOMA 5.91%
4 NORTH CAROLINA 4.00%
5 MISSOURI 3.37%
6 SOUTH CAROLINA 3.27%
7 ALABAMA 2.16%
8 GEORGIA 1.96%
U-Haul Top 8 U.S. Growth States*
January - December 2008
With 5,000 - 20,000 Families Moving
RANK STATE %GROWTH
1 MAINE 16.28%
2 DELAWARE 7.47%
3 KANSAS 6.20%
4 MINNESOTA 3.83%
5 NEBRASKA 2.55%
6 MISSISSIPPI 2.33%
7 WEST VIRGINIA 2.08%
8 NEW MEXICO 1.23%
* Data compiled from more than 1 million U-Haul one-way truck
transactions from January - December 2008.