UniGroup Relocation Study Indicates Decrease in Moves from U.S. to China

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fewer Americans are moving to China in 2014, according to the International Movers Study released today by UniGroup Relocation, which tracks customers' global migration patterns during the course of the past year. Moves from the U.S. to China decreased since 2013, causing the country to drop three spots on the list of top destination countries from the U.S.

Instead, Americans moving east are looking to other countries in the Asia Pacific regions such as Japan, which moved up four spots on the list of top destination countries, and Singapore, which jumped six spots from No. 10 to No. 4.

The study also shows a decrease in moves from the U.S. to Europe. Several western European countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy and the Netherlands continue to top the list of destinations for U.S. residents moving abroad. However, the total number of Americans moving to these countries is slipping, decreasing compared to last year.

The UniGroup companies move more than 260,000 families each year. The international study, which UniGroup has released since 2010, includes moves conducted by UniGroup to the U.S. from nations abroad and from the U.S. to other countries.

"As a global leader in household goods relocations, UniGroup Relocation's moving data is an indicator of global moving trends," said Melissa Sullivan, director, marketing communications for UniGroup. "Tracking trends year over year since 2010, our data often points to economic climates in these countries and regions." 

2014 Top Origin Countries to the U.S.

1. United Kingdom      
2. Germany             
3. China               
4. Canada              
5. France              
6. Australia           
7. Switzerland         
8. Netherlands         
9. India               
10. Japan               
11. South Africa        
12. Singapore           
13. Brazil              
14. Spain               
15. Hong Kong           

2014 Top Destination Countries from the U.S.

1. United Kingdom      
2. Germany             
3. Japan               
4. Singapore           
5. Switzerland         
6. Australia           
7. China               
8. France              
9. India               
10. Netherlands         
11. Brazil              
12. Belgium             
13. United Arab Emirates
14. Hong Kong           
15. Italy          

"The decrease in moves from the United States to China is a result of a slowdown of the Chinese economy. China's economy had grown nearly 15 percent per year for the past several years, but slowed to about 7 percent growth in 2014. While this is still positive, it is a large reduction in growth from recent trends," said Michael Stoll, economist, professor and chair of the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles. "The fact that the United States saw a moving deficit to only a few countries on the top of the destination and origin lists reflects the U.S. economy's continued strength internationally."

Some key trends emerged in the 2014 migration patterns:

Europe

European countries saw a high volume of inbound and outbound moves with Germany and the U.K. ranking in the top two on both the origin and destination lists. France stayed at No. 5 on the origin list and slipped three spots on the destination list from No. 5 to No. 8. On the destination list, Belgium made it on to the Top 15 list this year at No. 12. Switzerland moved up from No. 6 to No. 5 on the destination list and moved up to No. 7 from No. 9 on the origin list.

Asia Pacific

Hong Kong made it on to the list of top origin countries to the United States, coming in at No. 15. While Singapore moved up on the destination list, it dropped from No. 7 to No. 12 on the origin list. Japan held steady at No. 10 on the origin list.

Central and South America

Brazil moved to No. 13 from the No. 12 spot on the top origin list, and remained at No. 11 on the destination list.

UniGroup Relocation is affiliated with U.S. moving leaders Mayflower Transit and United Van Lines. The 2014 international migration results come after United released its 38^th annual national moving study, capturing state-to-state migration patterns in the U.S.

To view archived press releases of past studies from UniGroup Relocation, visit the UniGroup Relocation Newsroom.

About UniGroup Relocation

UniGroup Relocation offers premier relocation support including pre-assignment, housing, moving and destination services around the world. With regional headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., Amsterdam and Hong Kong, the UniGroup Relocation Network services nearly 1,000 locations across more than 180 countries. To learn more about UniGroup Relocation, please visit UniGroupRelocation.com.

SOURCE UniGroup Relocation

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