Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Future Competition
Apr 20 2015 // Young agents, while generally happy with their career choice, temper their optimism with doses of reality about what lies ahead in terms of competition. Who can blame them? This issue of Insurance Journal features...
Young Agents Survey: The Next Generation Steps Up
Apr 20 2015 // You can download the PDF of the Young Agents Survey Results for free, compliments of Foremost Insurance Group. The independent insurance agency system is getting older. So much so that the average age of a U.S. insurance...
Independent Agents Identify Business Opportunities for Carriers: Survey
Apr 17 2015 // Most independent insurance agents are impressed by the carriers they place business with – but most also are interested in adding new company partners. This is one of the preliminary findings of a recent national survey...
Hot Insurance Markets for 2015
Apr 14 2015 // This year’s “Hot Markets” report for property/casualty insurance agents and brokers includes some not-so-usual suspects along with tried-and-true markets enjoying growth. Insurance Journal examined...
Michigan Officials: Crashes Up but Traffic Deaths Down in 2014
Apr 14 2015 // Michigan traffic deaths totaled less than 900 last year for the first time since 2011 despite an increase in the total number of crashes in 2014, officials announced. There were 876 traffic deaths in 2014, down 8 percent...
Nonstandard Auto Insurance Market Is Not For Everybody
Apr 13 2015 // The nonstandard auto market is not for every carrier or agency. Since 2007, carriers writing nonstandard auto policies have reported deteriorating operating performance and many have struggled to maintain market share. But...
Why Homeowners Should Worry Despite ‘Calm’ Hurricane Forecast
Apr 10 2015 // The Colorado State University hurricane forecast for the Atlantic Ocean came out Thursday and called for seven named storms. That would be the fewest since 1997. The CSU forecast will be followed soon by a host of others,...
Calm Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Due to Cooler Seas, El Nino
Apr 9 2015 // The Atlantic Ocean may have one of its quietest hurricane seasons in decades because of cooler water in the Atlantic and an El Nino in the Pacific, Colorado State University forecasters said. William Gray and Phil...
Spring Forecast Warns of Severe Thunderstorms, Hail, Tornadoes
Apr 8 2015 // It’s again the time of year when a mix of cool air from Canada, warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and a touch of energy off the Pacific can all wrap together to unleash storms across the U.S. Midwest and...
Oregon Committee Hears Bill to Increase Speed Limit
Apr 7 2015 // Oregonians could begin flying along certain highways at 75 mph after lawmakers heard testimony Friday on a bill upping speed limits from 65 mph on interstate highways. Under the proposal, passenger cars would be able to go...
Maine Workers’ Comp Loss Cost Increases
Apr 1 2015 // The National Council on Compensation Insurance’s (NCCI) filing for the overall average workers’ compensation loss cost level change of +2.6 percent in Maine took effect on a new and renewal basis as of April...
A.M. Best Revises Outlook for Southern Mutual Church Insurance Co.
Apr 1 2015 // A.M. Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative for the financial strength rating (FSR) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of Southern Mutual Church Insurance Co. (SMCIC) of Columbia, S.C., while affirming the...
Florida Foreclosure Rate Declines 35 Percent, Still Among Highest in Nation
Mar 31 2015 // Florida’s foreclosure activity has declined by more than a third from a year ago, but it still ranks as one of the highest in the nation. The research firm Realty Trac reported that Florida has one out of 570 homes...
Pennsylvania Workers’ Comp Rate to Decline for 4th Year
Mar 28 2015 // The cost of workers’ compensation insurance is declining for the fourth consecutive year in Pennsylvania. The state departments of Insurance and Labor & Industry said on Friday, March 27, that overall rates will...
Premiums, Claims Severity on Rise in Architects & Engineers Market: Survey
Mar 27 2015 // For the third consecutive year, most insurers providing professional liability insurance for architects and engineers saw their premium rates increase modestly in 2014, as expectations of larger rate hikes were tempered by...
Erie Survey Finds Wide Range of Distracted Behaviors Behind Wheel
Mar 27 2015 // To discourage distracted driving in conjunction with National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, Erie Insurance, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, recently asked drivers what they do behind the wheel. The online...
Regulators: Auto Insurance Rates Continue Downward Trend in Missouri
Mar 26 2015 // Auto insurance premiums have declined significantly since 2000, according to figures released by the Missouri Department of Insurance. The average annual cost for full coverage peaked in 2003 at $740 — it dipped to $726...
Shipping Losses Down in 2014 But New Threats Loom: Allianz
Mar 26 2015 // Shipping losses declined to 75 during 2014, a 32 percent drop from the previous year and well below the 10-year loss average of 127, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) third annual...
Michigan Workers’ Comp Costs Drop, Employment Rises
Mar 25 2015 // Michigan has had some positive developments on the employment and workers’ compensation fronts lately and state officials are eager to share the news. Workers’ comp costs for employers in Michigan have dropped...
2014 Insured Cat Losses below Average at $35 Bn: Swiss Re Sigma Report
Mar 25 2015 // Swiss Re has just released its sigma report on catastrophe losses for 2014, which confirms that total global economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters were around $110 billion, compared to global...
