Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Insurance Veterans’ Forecasts for 2012
Jan 5 2012 // Now that the year 2011 is behind us, let’s take a look at what might be ahead. Insurance Journal spoke with leading industry professionals and asked them what they are expecting this year. If their forecasts are any...
On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Decreased in 2011
Jan 4 2012 // There were 81 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2011, a decrease from the 87 fatalities reported for 2010. The 81 fatalities occurred in 33 states, one U.S....
New York City Helps Upstate Towns Prepare for Future Floods
Jan 2 2012 // The catastrophic flooding from hurricanes Irene and Lee exposed planning gaps in small towns that can’t afford effective flood readiness plans. But in New York’s Catskill Mountains, partnership with New York...
Fire Risk Lower in High-Rise Buildings: Report
Dec 29 2011 // Fires in high-rise buildings cause about $230 million in property damage and take more than 50 lives a year. But high-rise buildings tend to present a lower risk of fire and associated losses than lower-rise building,...
Auto Insurance Claim Costs Rising Again
Dec 28 2011 // Auto insurance claim costs countrywide have recently increased, reversing previous trends of declining or relatively stable costs. A new report from the Insurance Research Council (IRC), “Trends in Auto Injury...
WTO Risks its Future by Keeping Doha Talks Alive
Dec 28 2011 // The 153 members of the World Trade Organization agree on two things: We’re in a hole. And we must keep digging. The hole is the Doha Development Round, a decade-old negotiation that was billed as the next stage of...
Early Flood Outlook Looks Favorable for North Dakota
Dec 28 2011 // North Dakota residents who have taken turns battling major floods the last three years may be in for a break, based on the first National Weather Service flood outlook of the season. Hydrologist Allen Schlag says the...
Best Affirms Ratings of Sompo Japan and U.S. Subs; Outlook Stable
Dec 27 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa-” of Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. Best also, affirmed the FSR of...
Best Affirms Wind River Re, U.S. Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Dec 27 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Bermuda-based Wind River Reinsurance Company, Ltd. and its U.S. subsidiaries....
Best Affirms NIPPONKOA’s ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Dec 27 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Japan’s NIPPONKOA Insurance Company Ltd, both with stable outlooks. The ratings...
Consumer Group Hammers Mercury Rate Increase Filing in California
Dec 22 2011 // A California consumer group is challenging a rate hike bid by Mercury Insurance because the group claims the company is trying to pass along the costs of its political campaigning. But the insurer says those costs are not...
Kansas Insurance Regulator Rebuffs Proposed Workers’ Comp Rate Increase
Dec 22 2011 // Kansas’ top insurance regulator has refused a proposed workers’ compensation rate increase and actually got the rate to drop slightly, the state insurance department announced. Insurance Commissioner Sandy...
Willis Report Highlights P&I Market’s Record Financial Results in 2011
Dec 22 2011 // The Protection & Indemnity (P&I) market “delivered a blockbuster financial performance last year,” according to a report from Willis. However, the report also found that P&I Clubs are “faced...
Report: Fewer Traffic Deaths in Nevada In 2011
Dec 21 2011 // Despite a slight increase in pedestrian deaths, the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety says the number of people killed in traffic accidents in Nevada plunged in 2011 and will end the year at slightly more than half of the...
Study: Reforms Impacted Growth in Texas Workers’ Comp Claim Costs
Dec 21 2011 // The average cost of a workers’ compensation claim in Texas grew 5 percent in 2009, reflecting the impact of recent medical fee schedule increases and possibly some effect of the recession, according to a new study by...
Best Upgrades Swiss Re’s Ratings to ‘A+’; Outlook Stable
Dec 20 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A+’ (Superior) from ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “aa-” from “a+” of Swiss Reinsurance...
Hurricane Forecaster Delays 2012 Prediction Until Spring
Dec 20 2011 // Hurricane forecaster William Gray will wait until spring to predict how many storms will form in the Atlantic. Gray and his research partner at Colorado State University, Philip Klotzbach, usually start making predictions...
Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicate 2001 Ratings; Amlin AG, Amlin plc; Outlook Stable
Dec 20 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa-” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 2001, which is...
Swiss Re Sees Continued Emerging Market Growth; Profitability Squeeze
Dec 20 2011 // Insurance in emerging markets has “experienced strong growth over the past decade and the outlook for the next decade remains promising,” a Swiss Re sigma study concludes. However, it also notes that...
Allstate Rates for Texas Homeowners Could Go Up
Dec 19 2011 // Allstate Insurance has asked Texas regulators to allow the company to raise homeowner rates by nearly 10 percent for some customers. Allstate spokesman Joe McCormick told the Dallas Morning News that the industry is...
