Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Opinion: 1 Year Later, Moore Is Study in Resilience
May 20 2014 // One year ago today, a deadly EF5 tornado ripped through Moore, Okla., making it the third most violent storm in less than 15 years to pummel the small city, which was struck by an EF5 tornado in 1999, and an EF4 in...
‘Mega Trends’; Optimism at the EIF 2014 Conference; DIMA CEO Interview
May 19 2014 // Ireland has been through some difficult economic times, but this year’s European Insurance Forum, held at the Four Seasons Hotel on May 15 and 16, highlighted the progress that’s been made, and the bright...
R.I. Approves WC Advisory Loss Costs Increase of 2.5% for Industrial Classes
May 19 2014 // Rhode Island’s Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division, on May 15 approved a +2.5 percent overall increase in advisory loss costs for workers’ compensation for industrial classes and an overall...
NCAA Athletes Drop Image-Use Damages Claim, Pursue Future Earnings
May 19 2014 // Ex-National Collegiate Athletic Association players suing to gain a share of the $800 million of annual broadcast revenue reaped by the organization said they won’t seek damages for past use of their images, instead...
Changing MGA Market, Specialization and the Future: Hanover Excess & Surplus’s Letson
May 19 2014 // Matthew Letson, incoming president of the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA), found the insurance industry like most do – by accident. After college, he landed a job at Markel doing marketing...
The Emerging Hail Risk: What the Hail is Going On?
May 19 2014 // The number of reported claims involving hail damage to residential and commercial roofing products has increased dramatically in the past few years. Some reports place the increase at almost double historical claim...
Snowpack Survey Gives Bleak Summer Outlook for California
May 19 2014 // With summer approaching state water managers say California’s snowpack is at 18 percent of average for the date. The Department of Water Resources at the end of April said the season’s final survey of the...
House Republicans Offer Road Map for the Future of Terrorism Insurance
May 15 2014 // Having previously played (and arguably, lost) two prior rounds of legislative “chicken” with the insurance industry, congressional conservatives are making it known that, this time around, they’re quite...
Connecticut Residents Feeling Financial Strain as Flood Insurance Cost Rises
May 15 2014 // People living on Porter Avenue in Middlebury, Conn., face a threat that could put their homes underwater — but it’s not coming from nearby Long Swamp Brook. The rising cost of flood insurance is putting a...
Generali Begins Talks on BSI Sale; Q1 Profit Up 9.4%
May 15 2014 // Italian insurer Generali expects to meet key capital and asset sales targets ahead of time after kicking off talks with Brazil’s BTG Pactual for a possible sale of Swiss unit BSI, a central plank of its...
Changes in Indiana Workers’ Comp Aimed at Slowing Rise in Medical Costs
May 13 2014 // As in other states with no restrictions on pricing in the workers’ compensation system, medical costs per claim are high and are rising in Indiana, according to a recent study by the Workers’ Compensation...
In Connecticut, Sea Level Predictions Prompt New Awareness in Communities
May 13 2014 // In Connecticut, the global issue of climate change is being confronted locally. The Day of New London reports that in Old Saybrook, a municipal panel met for the first time last week to consider how to help the low-lying...
Survey Reveals Public Attitudes on West Virginia Chemical Spill
May 13 2014 // About one-third of those who responded to a survey conducted three months after a chemical spilled into the Elk River indicated a member of their household had a spill-related illness, Kanawha County’s health officer...
Nationwide Reports P/C Premium Up 6% in Q1; Weather Lowers P/C Profit
May 12 2014 // Nationwide reported total operating revenue of $6.1 billion for the first three months of 2014, up 5 percent over the same period last year and steady compared to fourth quarter 2013. First quarter operating earnings were...
Outlook Revised to Negative for Badger Mutual Insurance; A- Rating Affirmed
May 9 2014 // A.M. Best has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Badger Mutual Insurance Company (Badger Mutual), of...
Strong Euro Decreases Munich Re’s Q1 Net Profit, Premium Income
May 8 2014 // The world’s largest reinsurer, Munich Re, reported an almost 5 percent drop in net profit in the first quarter, as a strong euro dragged down premium income. “Despite negative currency effects, we almost...
Harsh Weather Slowed Growth in North Dakota Economy in 2013
May 7 2014 // Severe winter weather during the last three months of the year affected key industries tied to oil extraction, slowing North Dakota’s taxable sales and purchases in 2013, the state tax commissioner said. North...
Increase in Oklahoma Tremors a Cause for Concern, Authorities Say
May 7 2014 // The rate of earthquakes in Oklahoma has increased by about 50 percent since October 2013, significantly increasing the chance for a damaging quake in the central part of the state, federal and state agencies said. The U.S....
Best Affirms Endurance Specialty and Subs Ratings; Outlooks Stable
May 7 2014 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Bermuda-based Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. and its affiliates, as well...
Terre Haute, Indiana Sees Rise in Mo-Ped Thefts
May 6 2014 // With gas prices close to $4 per gallon, Terre Haute resident Russell Moffatt had been happy to park his gas-guzzling pickup truck in favor of a fuel efficient mo-ped that he could ride to work. That is, until someone stole...
