Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
CPC Forecasts Weak El Niño for Northern Hemisphere Winter
Oct 5 2012 // The U.S. national weather forecaster still expects the much-feared El Niño phenomenon, which can wreak havoc on global weather, to remain weak into the Northern Hemisphere winter, even after its development slowed last...
Study: Poor Roads Cost Texans $23 Billion a Year
Oct 4 2012 // A nonprofit highway industry group says its study found decaying Texas roads are costing motorists more than $23 billion a year. TRIP is sponsored by insurance companies, highway and transit engineers and builders and...
North Carolina Insurers Seek 17.7% Increase in Homeowners Rates
Oct 4 2012 // North Carolina homeowners could see their first rate increase in four years as the state’s rating bureau called for a statewide average 17.7 percent increase in loss cost rates. The North Carolina Rate Bureau filed...
Best Affirms QBE Insurance Group ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Oct 1 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of UK-based QBE Insurance (Europe)...
Florida Approves State Farm 6.4% Homeowners Rate Increase
Sep 28 2012 // Florida regulators have approved an average 6.9 percent rate hike for State Farm Florida Insurance Co., which is the insurer’s fifth increase in as many years. The insurer had initially sought an average 14.9 percent...
Best Affirms Donegal Group’s Members, Affiliates Ratings; Outlook Stable
Sep 28 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of the members of the Donegal Insurance Group, based in Marietta,...
Best Affirms Colonial Group and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Sep 28 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of the life/health and property/casualty operating subsidiaries of...
291 Died in NYC Traffic Accidents Last Fiscal Year: Mayor’s Report
Sep 27 2012 // The latest management report from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg shows there were 291 citywide traffic fatalities for the fiscal year that ended June 30. It’s up 23.3 percent from the year before when there...
Vermont Captive Insurance Leader Discusses Emerging Areas, Challenges
Sep 26 2012 // Vermont is the leading onshore captive insurance domicile. The Green Mountain State now has over 900 captives, having licensed more than four times the number of captives than any other domestic competitor. Richard Smith,...
Homeowners Insurance Claims Cost Rising Rapidly: Study
Sep 26 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 new Insurance Research...
Best Reports on MENA Insurance Market; Regulatory Change Coming
Sep 26 2012 // A report from A.M. Best examines the current state of the insurance market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It notes that “over the past decade, the insurance industry has experienced strong growth...
Catlin Sponsored ‘Seaview Survey’ Launched to Study Coral Reefs
Sep 26 2012 // The Catlin group has invited “people around the world” to participate in its newest project, the “Catlin Seaview Survey,” which it, described as “a series of scientific expeditions to explore...
Florida’s Citizens Defends Proposed 11.2% Rate Increase at Hearing
Sep 25 2012 // Executives of Florida’s state-backed insurer defended a proposed statewide average 11.2 percent increase in homeowners rates as regulators, consumer advocates and other officials questioned the need for the...
Tax Penalty to Hit 6 Million Who Don’t Buy Health Insurance by 2016
Sep 24 2012 // Nearly 6 million Americans — significantly more than first estimated— will face a tax penalty under President Barack Obama’s health overhaul for not getting insurance, congressional analysts said. Most would be...
Best Affirms AXIS Specialty and Subs ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Positive
Sep 24 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of AXIS Specialty Limited and its operating affiliates, as well as the ICR...
Best Affirms Factory Mutual and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Sep 21 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of ‘”aa” of Factory Mutual Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, Appalachian...
WTO Cuts 2012 Global Trade Growth Forecast to 2.5%
Sep 21 2012 // World trade will grow by a mere 2.5 percent this year, dragged down by Europe to less than half of the previous 20-year average, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Friday. The WTO cut its estimate from a 2012...
Aon Outlines Risk Management Approach for Emerging Economies
Sep 19 2012 // A bulletin from Aon Global Risk Consulting, the risk management arm of Aon plc, using responses from 100 senior risk industry professionals at its annual Client Symposium, indicates that “organizations in Central and...
Real Estate Matters Top List of Legal Malpractice Claims: Survey
Sep 17 2012 // For the first time since the American Bar Association began conducting surveys of legal malpractice insurance claims beginning in 1985, insurers reported a higher percentage of claims involving real estate than any other...
More Employers Offering Consumer-Driven Health Plans: Survey
Sep 17 2012 // Consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) have surpassed health maintenance organizations to become the second most common plan design offered by U.S. employers, according to a survey from Aon Hewitt. Preferred provider...
