Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Crime Warp: Recession Driving a Rise in Vehicle Give-Ups
May 4 2009 // As America’s economy slogs through this once-in-a-generation recession, stressed-out consumers are literally being driven to desperation. Growing numbers of drivers are illegally dumping their vehicles for insurance...
Agents, Rate Your Regional Carriers in a New Insurance Journal Sponsored Survey
May 4 2009 // Channel Harvest Research and Insurance Journal have announced a major new study in the independent agency system that will probe agents’ attitudes toward carrier relationships and the insurance companies they...
S&P Revises Fortis’ Outlook to Positive; Belgian Ins. Unit Remains Negative
May 1 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its rating implications to positive from developing on the CreditWatch placement of its ‘BB’ long-term counterparty credit ratings and ‘B’...
Travelers’ Earnings Fall; Premiums Up Slightly; Combined Ratio at 90.6%
May 1 2009 // The Travelers Companies, Inc. net income for the first quarter of 2009 fell more than 30 percent to $662 million, for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, compared to $967 million, for the quarter ended March 31, 2008....
Regulator Sees Mergers Coming in Weakened Life Insurance Sector
Apr 29 2009 // U.S. life insurers, weakened by the global financial crisis, are in for mergers and regulators will not shy away from playing matchmaker to deal with weak companies, Eric Dinallo, New York’s insurance superintendent,...
Oregon Medical Malpractice Insurance Rates Decrease
Apr 29 2009 // Physicians and surgeons in Oregon have seen a decline in medical professional liability insurance rates the past several years, according to a Department of Consumer and Business Services analysis of recent rate...
United Fire & Casualty Reports Income Decline in Q1 2009
Apr 28 2009 // Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based United Fire & Casualty Company reported net income for the first quarter of 2009 was $3.3 million or 12 cents per diluted share, down from a net income of $20.1 million or 74 cents per diluted...
California Commissioner Asks Workers’ Comp Board to Withdraw Rate Increase
Apr 28 2009 // At a rate hearing on Tuesday, April 28, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner urged the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) to withdraw its request for an increase in the workers’...
Florida’s Property Insurance Market: An Overview by Commissioner McCarty
Apr 24 2009 // It is always interesting, and frequently amusing, to read various “research” pieces on the Florida property insurance market. While I, like every other insurance regulator, industry professional and observer in...
North Carolina Coastal Insurance Rates to Rise May 1
Apr 23 2009 // Homeowners in 18 coastal North Carolina counties whose homes are insured by a state-backed insurance pool shouldn’t expect a delay of higher rates taking effect May 1. A powerful state legislator said a comprehensive...
Europe Votes to Adopt New Solvency Rules for Insurance by 2012
Apr 23 2009 // The European Parliament voted this week for new regulation of insurers that aims to cut costs by giving one national regulator the lead role in monitoring insurance companies operating across several EU nations. EU...
Hurricane Prediction Lowered
Apr 20 2009 // While lawmakers in coastal states debated property insurance rates and reforms, forecasters lowered their 2009 Atlantic forecast to 12 tropical storms, of which six could become hurricanes. The Colorado State University...
Cat 5 Litigation in the Forecast?
Apr 20 2009 // As 2008 Hurricane Claims Enter Court and New Season Approaches, Katrina Issues Linger The 2008 hurricane season was the sixth most active tropical storm season recorded since data collection began in 1851. Six storms made...
California 2008 Workers’ Comp Premiums Written Decrease 20%
Apr 20 2009 // The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California has published its summary of insurer experience reported up to Dec. 31, 2008. California written premium for 2008 is estimated at approximately $10.4...
Crime Warp: Recession Driving a Rise in Vehicle Give-Ups
Apr 20 2009 // As America’s economy slogs through this once-in-a-generation recession, stressed-out consumers are literally being driven to desperation. Growing numbers of drivers around the U.S. are illegally dumping their...
Rates Rising on U.S. Property Catastrophe Reinsurance
Apr 20 2009 // A new industry briefing shows reinsurance rates continuing to increase for the U.S. property-catastrophe reinsurance market for April 1, 2009, renewals. According to Guy Carpenter & Co.’s “Rates Up on...
Make the iConnection: Engage Your Future Leaders
Apr 20 2009 // Talent Strategies for Understanding Generation Y Employees “They all received trophies just for showing up. They are unable to accept failure.” “If they don’t like the way the game is being played,...
Finding Solutions for Emerging E&O Risks
Apr 20 2009 // Excess and Surplus Lines Market Offers a Place For Challenging Risks Since all service providers face the potential of law suits related to real or perceived “errors and omissions,” E&O coverage has become...
Global Takaful Market On Growth Track
Apr 17 2009 // Growth in the emerging global Islamic insurance industry, or takaful, is waning slightly due to the economic slowdown, but remains strong as more people switch from conventional insurance. The global market is seen growing...
Increasing Insurance Costs Could Curb Horse Rides on Oregon Beaches
Apr 16 2009 // Once, stable owner Terry Swigart recalls, people could ride horses through the surf along Oregon’s beaches with few restraints — “a free-spirit-type thing.'” These days, though, the practice of...
