Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Social Inflation, Low Interest Rates, Rising Catastrophes: Recipe for a Hard Market
Sep 9 2020 // Even before the coronavirus crisis hit, the re/insurance industry was in a period of significant rate hardening, which will likely continue over the next two years, or even longer, according to Munich Re. Such price...
South Carolina Sues Entities Behind ‘Mount Trashmore’ for $5M in Clean Up Costs
Sep 8 2020 // South Carolina sued the owner of a site where a massive pile of trash burned and smoldered for months, demanding $5 million to pay back what the state spent to put out the fire and clean up the site. Able Contracting Inc....
Changing How We Recruit — The Future of Insurance Post COVID-19
Sep 7 2020 // Typically each spring, a crop of fresh college graduates enters the workforce, making the critical first steps to determine personal and professional paths. Today, the job landscape differs greatly from what it was even a...
The Rising Risk of Inland Flooding
Sep 7 2020 // Not Only in FEMA Zones, Not Only During Hurricane Season Major companies across the U.S. are increasingly recognizing the risk for inland flooding and with good reason. As recent hurricanes like Harvey and Florence made...
What Does the Future of the Agency System Look Like?
Sep 7 2020 // The demise of the independent agent has been predicted ad nauseam, however arguably the most hotly debated version came from a 2013 McKinsey report with a section entitled “The End of an Era for the Local Insurance...
Cyber Attacks Are Seen Pushing Up Risk Premiums for Stocks
Sep 4 2020 // U.S. equity investors are demanding higher risk premiums to compensate for rising cyber threats as the coronavirus pandemic pushes more businesses to move online. That’s according to researchers at Michigan State...
Florida Workers’ Comp Rates Going Down, Again
Sep 4 2020 // The downward trend for Florida workers’ compensation rates is set to continue next year thanks to favorable loss experiences from policy years 2017 and 2018. The latest filing from the National Council on...
Despite Pandemic, Derecho, Midwest Economy Improves, Survey Finds
Sep 2 2020 // The rural economy in Middle America showed improvement in August, despite the effects of a global pandemic and a rare devastating windstorm earlier in the month, according to a monthly survey of nine Midwest and Plains...
Report: Workers’ Comp Written Premium in California for First Quarter to be Down 5%
Sep 2 2020 // The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California has released its quarterly experience report, an update on California statewide insurer experience valued as of March 31, 2020. Highlights of the report...
China Reinsurance Group’s Premiums Rise 20% in First Half
Sep 1 2020 // In the first half of 2020, China Re Group Corp. enjoyed rapid growth in premiums and steady profitability despite the pandemic. In the first half of 2020, gross written premiums increased 20.5% year-on-year to RMB102.1...
Check Up: The Post-Pandemic Future of the Current Telehealth Sensation
Aug 31 2020 // Telehealth is a bit of American ingenuity that seems to have paid off in the coronavirus pandemic. Medicare temporarily waived restrictions predating the smartphone era and now there’s a push to make telemedicine...
4 Killed as Hurricane Laura Slams Louisiana, but Less Damage Than Forecast
Aug 27 2020 // Hurricane Laura ripped through Louisiana on Thursday, destroying buildings in towns across the southwestern corner of the state and killing four people who were crushed by falling trees as they sheltered in their homes,...
Experts Puzzled by Decline in Insurance Fraud Tips via Technology
Aug 25 2020 // Even though insurers have invested heavily in fraud-fighting technology, the percentage of referrals from automated systems accepted by special investigation units has declined to 15 percent from 22 percent in the past two...
Sierra Leone Residents’ Damages Suit Against Miner Is Part of Activist Trend
Aug 25 2020 // FREETOWN – At the foot of a slag heap some 40 meters high, Adi Kalie Bangura showed the black welts that dot his arms and legs that he says are the result of drinking and bathing in water contaminated by Sierra...
Commercial Insurance Prices Up 19% in Q2: Marsh Index
Aug 24 2020 // Global average commercial insurance prices increased 19% in the second quarter of 2020, the eleventh straight quarter they have risen. Average price increases were driven principally by increases in property insurance...
Louisiana Governor Sets Goal: Net Zero Greenhouse Gases by 2050
Aug 21 2020 // Louisiana’s governor has signed an executive order setting a state goal for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, drawing swift praise from environmental groups. At least 23 other states and the District of...
Drug Costs for COVID-19 Patients in U.S. Hospitals Drop But May Rise Again
Aug 20 2020 // Medication costs for COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the United States have dropped sharply since May, reflecting advances in treatment, shorter stays and use of cheaper generic drugs. But costs may rise again as...
Report: COVID-19 Workers’ Comp Claims on The Rise in California
Aug 19 2020 // The number of California workers’ compensation claims for COVID-19 continues to climb, according to a new report compiled by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute. Data from the Division of...
Wisconsin Reinsurance Group’s Credit Rating Outlook Drops From Positive to Stable
Aug 19 2020 // AM Best has revised the outlook to stable from positive for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICRs of “bbb” of...
Maine Firefighters Get Meters to Prevent Future Explosions
Aug 14 2020 // Twenty fire departments in Maine are getting gas detection meters from the state to help prevent another disaster like the Farmington gas leak explosion. The explosion last September killed Farmington fire Capt. Michael...
