MANATEE — Are more people moving out of Florida than moving in from other states?
Yes, one national moving company said in a report released Monday.
No, said another national mover that also released a similar report.
Both are probably right, but it's more complex than just counting shipments, a state researcher said.
Atlas Van Lines said it handled 4,847 moves into Florida and 5,419 moves out of the state in 2009, the fourth consecutive year that departures outnumbered arrivals for the company.
But Allied Van Lines said it moved more people in than it took out last year, handling 4,538 moves into Florida and 4,066 moves out of the state.
It was the first time since at least 2005 that arrivals exceeded departures, the company said.
Stan Smith, director of the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research, said both companies' statistics probably are accurate but have limited value.
"Data from moving companies like that represent a very small proportion of moves in Florida," Smith said. "You can't draw a conclusion on the number of people moving in and out of Florida from that."
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