Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Amica Mutual Downgraded by A.M. Best Citing Increasing Catastrophe Losses, Auto Claims
Feb 6 2017 // Amica Mutual Insurance Co. no longer has a perfect financial strength rating from A.M. Best. More catastrophe losses and worsening automobile insurance claims severity are both to blame. Specifically, an A+ (Superior)...
New Electronic System Could Increase Costs for Vermont Car Inspections
Feb 6 2017 // The costs of motor vehicle safety inspections could go up in Vermont as inspection stations start using a new electronic system. The safety requirements for vehicles will remain the same, but it’s thought some...
North Carolina Auto Rates Going Up? Rate Bureau Files for 13.8% Rate Increase
Feb 6 2017 // The North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB) is requesting an average increase of 13.8 percent on private passenger automobile insurance rates in its latest filing with the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI). NCRB...
Wells Fargo Market Outlook Offers Favorable News for Cyber Security
Feb 6 2017 // San Francisco, Calif.-based Wells Fargo Insurance released its 2017 Insurance Market Outlook and Employee Benefits Outlook report in late January, which shows this year’s property/casualty insurance market will again...
Opioid Doses in Ohio Declined Again in 2016
Feb 6 2017 // The number of opioid doses dispensed to Ohio patients decreased again last year, making 2016 the fourth year in a row that the number has dropped. A recent report from the State Board of Pharmacy’s Ohio Automated Rx...
Study: Fatal Wrecks in Alabama Increase 25% in 2016
Feb 6 2017 // Researchers say the number of fatal traffic crashes in Alabama increased by nearly 25 percent last year. Citing a recent University of Alabama study, The Tuscaloosa News reports that 1,058 people died in crashes statewide...
S&P: P/C Insurers Could See Potholes in 2017 as Earnings Outlook ‘Isn’t Too Pretty’
Feb 6 2017 // This year will be a turning point for the U.S. property/casualty (P/C) insurance sector, as rising claims outpace pricing and reserve releases materially decrease. But it will not be a “softer for longer” rate...
Minding Your Business: Trends to Exploit in 2017
Feb 6 2017 // It is a new era for our country, with President Donald Trump coming into power with the theme to “Make America Great Again.” Perhaps it is also the time to do the same for agency planning. Are there things in...
E&S Market Continues to See Growth in Premium: Texas Stamping Office
Feb 6 2017 // Overall, 2016 ended on a positive note for the U.S. excess and surplus lines insurance industry, according to the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX). Nationally, nearly $26 billion in surplus lines insurance...
Allstate Profit Up for 2016 Despite Higher Catastrophe Losses
Feb 3 2017 // Allstate ended 2016 with a solid profit thanks to premium hikes and tighter underwriting, despite a $853 million jump in catastrophe losses over the previous year. The property/casualty insurer ended up with more than $2.5...
Cost of Insurance Is Top Factor in UK SMEs’ Buying Decisions: RSA Survey
Feb 2 2017 // The cost of insurance premiums was ranked as the top deciding factor when picking a policy by 61 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to survey data released by London-based RSA Insurance. This...
Midwest Economy Continued to Improve in January: Survey
Feb 2 2017 // Results from a monthly survey of business supply managers released Feb. 1 suggest economic conditions continue to improve in nine Midwest and Plains states, and that confidence in the regional economy is at its highest...
Last Chance to Participate in the 2017 Agency Salary Survey
Feb 1 2017 // This is your last chance to participate in Insurance Journal’s annual Agency Salary Survey. The survey closes Friday, Feb. 3. We invite all retail agency owners, principals, producers, CSRs — the entire agency —...
A.M. Best Upwardly Revises Outlooks for Employers and Subsidiaries in Nevada
Jan 31 2017 // A.M. Best has revised the outlooks to stable from negative and affirmed, the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a-” of Employers Insurance Group Employers...
Michigan Cracking Down on Illegal Insurance Sales
Jan 27 2017 // The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) announced it is cracking down on fraudulent insurance sales. DIFS recently issued Cease and Desist Orders against a five entities for violating the...
Ohio Pharmacy Board: Painkiller Prescriptions Down 20% Since 2012
Jan 27 2017 // The state says the number of painkiller prescriptions continues to fall as Ohio battles a deadly addictions epidemic. Data released by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy show 631 million painkiller pills were dispensed to patients...
Agency Salary Survey: Find Out More on Today’s Compensation Trends
Jan 26 2017 // Insurance Journal is running its annual Agency Salary Survey and we want to hear from you. All retail agency owners, principals, producers, CSRs — the entire agency — is invited to participate in this exclusive...
A.M. Best: Outlook Positive for Wolverine Mutual Insurance
Jan 26 2017 // A.M. Best has revised the outlook to positive from stable for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of “bbb” of...
Wells Fargo Market Outlook Has Favorable News for Cyber Security
Jan 26 2017 // San Francisco, Calif.-based Wells Fargo Insurance released its 2017 Insurance Market Outlook and Employee Benefits Outlook reports showing this year’s property/casualty insurance market will again be favorable to...
Cat Bond Issuance in 2017 Could Approach Record Levels: Aon Report
Jan 25 2017 // Total catastrophe bond issuance for calendar year 2016 reached US$5.8 billion – a decrease from US$6.9 billion in 2015 – principally due to ongoing competitive re/insurance market conditions, according to an Aon...
