Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Maine Workers’ Compensation Rates to Go Down Next Year
Dec 5 2011 // Maine Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa said the Bureau of Insurance has approved the National Council on Compensation Insurance’s request to decrease workers’ comp loss costs in the state by an average of...
NYC PIP Costs Rising
Dec 5 2011 // Personal injury protection (PIP) claims closed in 2010 show that claimed losses for medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses from auto accident injuries in New York City rose 70 percent over the past decade,...
Program Market Growing With $17.5B in Premium, Survey Reveals
Dec 5 2011 // Jeremy Hitzig, Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA) president, presented the results of the first survey ever conducted by the association on program business at the annual conference held in...
Ohio Rolls Out Plan Aimed at Increasing Return to Work Rates
Dec 5 2011 // The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) introduced a new rating plan that encourages employers to maintain safe workplaces and to work with injured workers to speed their return to work. “Destination:...
Are You Prepared for the Changing Insurance Market?
Dec 2 2011 // In today’s personal property/casualty insurance market, agents and brokers face increasing uncertainty. Staying the course is no longer an option to drive profitable growth. You must be informed of the latest market...
Property Insurance Rates on the Rise: Marsh
Dec 2 2011 // Nearly half of the U.S. property insurance policies renewed in the current quarter have been at higher prices, brokerage Marsh said on Friday, adding fuel to an industry turnaround after years of declining rates. Marsh...
Swiss Re Economists See Weak Growth; Some Market Hardening; EU Peril
Dec 2 2011 // Swiss Re presented its latest analysis of the global economic outlook and its potential impact on the insurance industry at an economic forum in London yesterday, December 1. Chief Economist Kurt Karl began the discussion...
New York Lost 250,000 Middle- and High-Wage Jobs Since 2008: Report
Dec 1 2011 // New York State has been shedding hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs since the financial crisis hit and its poverty rate remains high. Since 2008, the state lost over 250,000 middle- and high-wage jobs in sectors...
Renewable Energy Sector Presents Rising Risks, Demand for Insurance
Nov 30 2011 // The renewable energy sector needs to improve risk management and access alternative sources of capital as operational risks rise and governments cut funding due to the uncertain economic environment. Based on a survey of...
Best Affirms Virginia Surety Co. Ratings; Outlook Positive
Nov 28 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Chicago-based Virginia Surety Company, Inc, both with positive outlooks. The...
Best Affirms Hiscox and Operating Companies ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 28 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Hiscox Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited,...
Insured Loss Estimate from Hurricane Irene Rises to $4.3 Billion
Nov 28 2011 // An insurance industry service that tracks catastrophe losses has sharply raised its estimates for August’s Hurricane Irene, projecting insured property damage of $4.3 billion from the first hurricane to hit the...
Best Affirms AXIS Specialty, Affiliates Ratings; Raises Outlook to Positive
Nov 23 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of Bermuda-based AXIS...
Best Affirms Zurich American and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 22 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Zurich American Insurance Company (Zurich US), headquartered in...
Agency E&O Survey: Why Agents Buy Coverage
Nov 22 2011 // Agency owners have a lot to protect. Of course, first and foremost they must protect their clients. But they must also protect their book of business. They must protect their relationships. They must protect their...
Record High Greenhouse Gases to Linger for Decades
Nov 22 2011 // Concentrations of the three main greenhouse gases blamed for global warming reached record levels in 2010 and will linger in the atmosphere for decades, even if the world stops emissions output today, the U.N.’s...
Ohio Rolls Out Rating Plan Aimed at Increasing Return to Work Rates
Nov 21 2011 // The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has introduced a new rating plan that encourages employers to maintain safe workplaces and to work with injured workers to speed their return to work. The new rating...
Best Affirms Zurich Insurance ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 21 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 Zurich Insurance Company Limited (ZIC),...
Agents say Arkansas Earthquake Insurance Sales Up
Nov 21 2011 // Insurance agents say the recent 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma has led many Arkansans to add earthquake insurance to their homeowner policies. The Nov. 5 quake east of Oklahoma City left damage over a wide area and...
Nationwide, Harleysville CEOs Say Merger All About Growth
Nov 21 2011 // The merger of insurer Nationwide Mutual with regional carrier Harleysville Mutual is all about growth, not only for the companies but also for their independent agents, according to the CEOs of the two...
