Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
FEMA to Delay Some Flood Insurance Premium Increases
Mar 10 2014 // Some flood insurance premiums required under a 2012 law now won’t be raised until the fall of 2015 at the earliest. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says delays passed by Congress will put off higher premiums...
Report Projects L.A.’s Vulnerability to Future Sea Level Rise
Mar 10 2014 // Los Angelenos may expect to experience sea level rise of as much as two feet by 2050 due to climate change, according to current projections. A team from USC partnered with Los Angeles to gauge the impact of the rising...
Study Says N.Y. ‘Scaffold Law’ Drives Up Building Costs, Causes Injuries
Mar 10 2014 // A new study published in February is challenging the claim that New York’s Labor Law 240, also known as the “Scaffold Law,” improves workplace safety. The study argues New York incurs additional workplace...
4-State PIA Survey Shows Prices Rising, But at Slower Pace
Mar 10 2014 // In January 2014, the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) affiliates in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York conducted their second-annual Market Trends Survey and found that the heralded hard market may not...
The Future of Drones in the Insurance Industry
Mar 7 2014 // After a catastrophe hits, mobile units filled with adjusters are on site to evaluate property damage. Flash forward five years and an insured may never meet the property adjuster handling his or her claim. Instead, a drone...
National Weather Service Warns Accuracy of Forecasts in Danger Over Damaged Buoys
Mar 7 2014 // The National Weather Service is set to start repairing 70 towering buoys used to track El Nino and La Nina patterns, whose damage has led scientists to warn the accuracy of forecasts is in danger. The Tropical Atmospheric...
Private Market Could Grow As Government Flood Insurance Prices Rise: Fitch
Mar 6 2014 // As federal subsidies for flood insurance are reduced and the cost of government provided insurance goes up, the demand for private flood coverage could also rise, according to Fitch Ratings. However, it remains to be seen...
Obamacare Expected to OK Renewal of Extended Plans for 2 Years: Report
Mar 5 2014 // Americans who kept their health plans that didn’t comply with Obamacare requirements will be able to renew those policies for two more years, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Obama administration,...
Winter Losses Pile Up But No Rating Impact on P/C Insurers Expected: Fitch
Mar 4 2014 // Severe winter weather is causing large losses for property/casualty insurance companies in early 2014, however there should be no rating impact as a result, according to Fitch Ratings. The severe winter weather from Jan. 1...
IronPro Enters Fidelity, Crime Insurance Market
Mar 3 2014 // IronPro, the U.S. professional and management liability unit of Ironshore Inc., is entering the fidelity & crime insurance market with product capacity limits available of up to $30 million. Kevin Finn has been named...
New Estimates Say UK Floods Could Cost Insurers up to $2.5 Billion
Feb 28 2014 // An additional £500 million [$838 million] has been added to the flood loss estimates from the almost continual storms, some reaching hurricane strength, which have produced widespread flooding to parts of Britain since...
Study Says N.Y. ‘Scaffold Law’ Drives Up Construction Costs, Causes Injuries
Feb 27 2014 // A new study published this month challenges the claim that New York’s Labor Law 240, also known as the “Scaffold Law,” improves workplace safety. The study, titled “The Costs of Labor Law...
Study Shows P/C Insurers Plan to Hire, Grow Significantly in 2014
Feb 27 2014 // More than half of all insurance companies responding to a recent survey say they plan to increase staff in 2014. Although hiring for the most-in-demand positions may prove difficult. That’s according to the latest...
Report Projects L.A.’s Vulnerability To Future Sea Level Rise
Feb 26 2014 // Los Angelenos may expect to experience sea level rise of as much as two feet due by 2050 due to climate change, according to current projections. A team from USC partnered with the Los Angeles to gauge the impact of the...
Liberty Mutual Swings to Profit; 2013 Full-Year Income Rises 110% to $1.74B
Feb 25 2014 // Liberty Mutual Holding Company Inc. and its subsidiaries today reported net income of $496 million for its 2013 fourth quarter, improving from a net loss of $234 million during the prior-year fourth quarter. The insurer...
Best Affirms Validus Re Swiss, Bermuda & Holdings Ratings; Outlook Stable
Feb 25 2014 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Validus Reinsurance, Ltd., (Validus Re – Bermuda) and Validus Reinsurance...
QBE Jumps on Premiums, North American Unit Outlook: Sydney Mover
Feb 25 2014 // QBE Insurance Group Ltd., Australia’s second-largest insurer by market value, climbed to its highest level in more than two months on plans to increase premium rates and bring its North American unit back to profit...
Northeast PIA Survey Shows Prices Rising, But at Slower Pace
Feb 24 2014 // In the first month of 2014, the PIA affiliates in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York conducted their second-annual Market Trends Survey and found that the heralded hard market may not be launching as...
Urbanization, Mobility, Gridlock and Predictions of ‘Peak Car’
Feb 24 2014 // The world that Henry Ford put on wheels is poised for a stall. In the globe’s growing megacities, pollution and gridlock are putting a damper on driving. In India, some commuters are leaving their cars at home to...
USAA CEO, President Robles to Step Down in 2015
Feb 24 2014 // The president and CEO of the insurer of military families, USAA, announced he will retire from USAA in the first quarter of 2015. “It has been my privilege to work at USAA for nearly 20 years. However, in early 2015,...
