Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Marsh: Excess Casualty Rates Continue to Rise
Nov 5 2012 // Excess casualty insurance rates continued to rise in the third quarter of 2012, as insurers sought higher prices amid increasing claims and litigation trends, and a low interest rate environment, insurance broker Marsh...
Vehicle Thefts Down in Louisiana
Nov 5 2012 // Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Louisiana is “is actively engaged in the prevention of insurance fraud and vehicle theft.” According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, the number of auto thefts...
Louisiana Employment, Wages Increased in 2011
Nov 5 2012 // Employment in Louisiana increased by a modest 0.8 percent in 2011 compared with 2010, but wages grew by 3 percent during the same period, according to data released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The data covers...
Texas Lawmaker: TWIA’s Ike Litigation Costs Still Rising
Nov 5 2012 // Texas’ insurer of last resort for coastal property has paid out more than $1.2 billion in individual litigation costs related to 2008’s Hurricane Ike, one state lawmaker says. Information released by Rep. Larry...
Rebounding Economy Spurs Growth in Cargo, Supply Chain Risks
Nov 5 2012 // A slow trend toward economic recovery in the United States may mean good news/bad news for insurance agents and brokers who handle commercial accounts with cargo and supply chain vulnerabilities. The good news is growth in...
Trends
Nov 5 2012 // It’s interesting to see what’s on people’s minds as potential catastrophes develop. Google’s top search on Oct. 29 as Hurricane Sandy approached the East Coast were for the “Weather...
Survey: One-fourth of Nevada Drivers Use Hand-Held Phones
Nov 5 2012 // A statewide survey shows 27 percent of Nevadans still use hand-held telephones while driving, despite a state law banning the practice that took effect Jan. 1. University of Nevada, Reno, researchers say the third annual...
Q2 Direct Premium Written Up Nearly 5% for P/C Companies
Nov 5 2012 // Overall, property/casualty insurance companies continued to serve their clients during an increased number of catastrophic events in 2011 as well as the tough economic conditions that have defined the better part of the...
Southern California-based Mercury Corp.’s 3Q Net Premiums Up 3.4%
Oct 29 2012 // Mercury General Corp.’s net premiums written for the third quarter rose 3.4 percent to more than $684 million, the Los Angeles, Calif.-based company reported on Monday. Mercury reported third-quarter net income of...
Initial Forecast: $5-10B Insured Losses Expected From Sandy: Eqecat
Oct 29 2012 // As the east coast braces for the impact of Hurricane Sandy, catastrophe risk modeling firm Eqecat issued this morning a preliminary estimate for potential economic and insured losses.A satellite image of Hurricane Sandy...
Texas Lawmaker: Windpool’s Ike Litigation Costs Still Rising
Oct 29 2012 // Texas’ insurer of last resort for coastal property has paid out more than $1.2 billion in individual litigation costs related to Hurricane Ike, which struck in 2008, one state lawmaker says. Information released by...
Chubb’s Q3 Profit Jumps 79%; Commercial Renewal Rates Up 8%
Oct 26 2012 // The Chubb Corp. reported $533 million net profit for its third quarter, up 78.8 percent from $298 million reported during the same period one year ago. The quarterly results got a boost from significantly lower catastrophe...
2012 Fire Season Among Worst On Record In Wyoming
Oct 25 2012 // This year’s wildfire season was among the most destructive on record in Wyoming, with as many as 1,400 wildfires charring more than a half-million acres, state forester Bill Crapser said. Normally Wyoming will see...
Louisiana Employment, Wages Increased in 2011
Oct 25 2012 // Employment in Louisiana increased by a modest 0.8 percent in 2011 compared with 2010, but wages grew by 3 percent during the same period, according to data released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The data covers...
Survey: 4th of Nevada Drivers Use Hand-Held Phones
Oct 24 2012 // A statewide survey shows 27 percent of Nevadans still use hand-held telephones while driving, despite a state law banning the practice that took effect Jan. 1. University of Nevada, Reno, researchers say the third annual...
Rising Medical Costs Lead to Hike in Cost Per WC Claim in N.J.: Study
Oct 23 2012 // The cost per workers’ compensation claim in New Jersey rose following the end of the recession, according to a new study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The study said a 10 percent increase in...
W.R. Berkley Posts $101M Q3 Profit; Rates on Renewed Policies Up 7%
Oct 23 2012 // Commercial lines insurer W.R. Berkley Corp. reported $100.95 million net profit for its third quarter, up 32.1 percent from $76.41 million reported during the same period one year ago. The Greenwich, Conn.-based insurer...
Lower Catastrophe Losses, Better Rate Environment Increase P/C Net Income: A.M. Best
Oct 22 2012 // The U.S. property/casualty industry’s underwriting and operating performance improved substantially in the first half of 2012 according to a special report by A.M. Best Co. Catastrophe losses, while remaining...
Rebounding Economy Spurs Growth in Cargo, Supply Chain Risks
Oct 22 2012 // A slow trend toward economic recovery in the U.S. may mean good news/bad news for insurance agents and brokers who handle commercial accounts with cargo and supply chain vulnerabilities. The good news is growth in sales...
Homeowners Insurance Claims Cost Rising Rapidly, Study Says
Oct 22 2012 // The cost of homeowners insurance claims has been rising rapidly because of the combined effects of rising claim severity and increases in claim frequency, according to an insurance industry report. A recent Insurance...
