The Andromeda Galaxy is predicted to collide with us in 4 billion years and all the galaxies in our neighborhood(up to 400 million lightyears away and only 400 million years back in time!!) seem to move to the so called Great Attractor and consequently
contract. see: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130122112439.htm
So, the closer it comes to present the less one can recognize expansion in the universe.
Only when observing earlier stages of the universe far away in time and distance, expansion and acceleration is strong!