A recent article highlighted U-Haul’s significant one-way rental volume, reporting approximately 2.5 million rentals. While the specifics were not explicitly detailed, these rentals likely represent a mix of individuals and families relocating. Assuming an average of 4-7 people per rental vehicle, this figure suggests substantial population movement. However, the article did not specify the time frame, leaving uncertainty about whether these rentals occurred over a week, month, or year.

The article speculated that people were relocating to states like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee for improved weather conditions. However, the climate in these destinations is not significantly more favorable compared to New York or New Jersey, making such a long-distance move seem less compelling based solely on meteorological factors.

The big hole in the theory is California, the state where most people are leaving. It is also the state with the best weather.

Nine of the top ten states experiencing significant growth predominantly supported the Republican candidate in the recent election, while simultaneously, nine out of ten moving trucks were departing from predominantly Democratic states, suggesting a potential correlation between political preferences.

That appears to me that it’s not so much about the weather, unless we’re considering whether the state is controlled by Republicans or Democrats.