Latest Trends Headlines

All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Report: Reno Has Good Chance of Big Quake by 2060

Mar 10 2010 // The chance of a significant earthquake rocking the Reno-Sparks, Nev., area over the next half century is on the rise, with a 67 percent likelihood a magnitude 6.0 will strike within 31 miles by 2060, a new report...

Marsh & McLennan Puts Kroll Consulting Up for Sale for $1.3 Billion

Mar 9 2010 // Marsh & McLennan Cos Inc., the No 2. global insurance broker, has put up its security consulting business Kroll up for sale for $1.3 billion and received offers from several major private equity firms in the first...

Uncertainty Pervades the Terrorism Insurance Market

Mar 8 2010 // Threats Rise and TRIA Funding Comes Under Attack The threat of terrorism in the United States is rising, but the future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) is in question. At a time when top U.S. officials warn of...

Uncertainty Pervades the Terrorism Insurance Market

Mar 7 2010 // As Threats Rise, TRIA Funding Comes Under Attack The threat of domestic terrorism is rising, but the future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) is in question. At a time when top U.S. officials warn of an imminent...

Uncertainty Pervades the Terrorism Insurance Market

Mar 7 2010 // Threats On Rise and TRIA Funding Faces Possible Cutback; Standalone Market Could Gain The threat of terrorism in the U.S. is rising but the future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) is in question. At a time when...

Tractor-Trailer Cargo Thefts on the Rise in Pennsylvania

Mar 4 2010 // Authorities say thieves are increasingly targeting tractor-trailers in Pennsylvania to steal their loads of electronics, food or drink, later abandoning the trailers at the side of the road. Sometimes the culprits steal...

New Vehicle Registrations in Wisconsin Down 46% Since 2000

Mar 4 2010 // New vehicle registrations in Wisconsin are nearly half of what they were in 2000. Registrations dropped 46 percent — a hit that’s felt well beyond the state’s auto dealerships. Thousands of jobs have...

Foodborne Illnesses Cost U.S. $152 Billion a Year: Study

Mar 4 2010 // Foodborne illnesses cost the United States $152 billion in health-related expenses each year, according to a study released by consumer and public health groups on Wednesday. Food safety advocates are hoping that the study...

Private Sector Surveys Point to U.S. Jobs Recovery

Mar 4 2010 // Three forward-looking surveys of U.S. hiring intentions point to a tentative jobs recovery in coming months. The surveys by U.S. staffing and payroll companies suggest businesses are cautiously rebuilding staff, especially...

Vermont Firms to See Decline in Workers’ Comp Costs

Mar 3 2010 // Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas says the state’s business owners are going to be paying less for workers’ compensation insurance. The new rates that will take effect April 1 will mark the fourth consecutive year in...

Amerisafe Net Income Rises Despite Premium Decreases in Q4 2009

Mar 3 2010 // DeRidder, La.-based workers’ compensation insurer Amerisafe Inc. reported net income of $6.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, an increase of 15 percent over the $5.7 million recorded in the fourth quarter of...

Massachusetts Worker’s Compensation Premium Rates Could Rise

Mar 2 2010 // Massachusetts workers’ compensation insurance rates would rise an average of 4.5 percent under a new rate proposal submitted by the Workers’ Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau. The bureau is the licensed...

No-Fault Auto Insurance Popularity Declines Due to High Medical Costs

Mar 2 2010 // No-fault automobile insurance, once seen as a way to limit court costs and lower premiums, has declined in popularity among both insurers and consumers because it largely has failed to accomplish either goal, according to...

Nebraska-Based Survey Suggests Midwest Economy Is Improving

Mar 2 2010 // The February Business Conditions Index for the Mid-America region, a leading economic indicator from a survey of supply managers in a nine-state area, rose for a third straight month pointing to improving economic growth...

Arizona Auto Rates Increased 2% in Past 6 Months

Feb 26 2010 // The median six-month auto insurance rate in Arizona has increased approximately 2 percent over the past six months to reach $829 according to InsWeb, an online insurance comparison provider. Among the other statistics the...

Allianz 2009 Net Income up 13% at $6.4 Billion

Feb 26 2010 // Germany’s Allianz Group posted preliminary figures for 2009, indicating that its net income rose by 13.2 percent to €4.7 billion [$6.4 billion]. Revenues were up up 5.2 percent to €97.4 billion [$132.5...

Insurance Fraud Reportedly Increasing in Virginia

Feb 26 2010 // The number of suspected insurance fraud notifications received by the Virginia State Police are continuing to increase, according to the Insurance Fraud Program’s 2009 Annual Report Last year, the Insurance Fraud...

Best Maintains Stable Outlook on Global Non-Life Reinsurance Industry

Feb 23 2010 // For the fourth consecutive year, A.M. Best Co. is maintaining a stable outlook for the global non-life reinsurance industry. The current outlook implies that the “majority of 2010 reinsurer rating actions are likely...

State Auto Reports Revenue Increases for 2009

Feb 22 2010 // Columbus, Ohio-based State Auto Financial Corporation’s fourth quarter 2009 net income rose to $14.4 million compared with a net loss of $0.6 million for the fourth quarter 2008, the company reported. For the year...

Colorado Bills Could Increase Insurance Costs for Consumers

Feb 22 2010 // Several bills up for hearings this week in the Colorado legislature that are being pushed by the Colorado Trial Bar are likely to contribute to frivolous lawsuits that drive up insurance costs for consumers, according to...