1.9.1 Regional population change is a barometer of wider changes in the economy and society, but is also the fundamental denominator against which those changes need to be set. The rest of this report makes frequent reference to the rurality, growth and comparatively elderly age structure of the South West's population as affecting our understanding of these themes. Rurality, for example, affects transport and patterns of deprivation, growth both fuels and "dilutes" the effect of economic growth, and the ageing population profoundly affects changes in the labour market. Whilst most people migrate for work, the high environmental quality and long coastline of the South West undoubtedly contribute to in-migration, and hence growth of the South West.
1.9.2 The latest data shows a slight tailing off in growth trends in the region, mainly owing to a reduction of net inward migration. This is likely to be related to the change in economic conditions affecting the region and the UK as a whole. It will be interesting to see how this develops and whether the modest recovery we are seeing in the economy will be affected in population trends. The most recent years' data indicated, for example, inwards migration from the South East and the East to the South West, may be picking up.
