Research and Trends News

US Property/Catastrophe Reinsurance Rates Likely to Stabilize During Midyear Renewals

Reinsurance renewal rates continued dropping during this year’s January renewals, but US property/catastrophe reinsurance pricing is likely to stabilize during the coming midyear renewals, according to a report from Moody’s Ratings. “The upcoming midyear 2025 reinsurance renewals, which focus on …

Europe’s Winter Storms Will Get Worse as Emissions Rise, Study Says

Global carbon emissions are amplifying a North Atlantic wind pattern that drives northern Europe’s biggest winter storms, new research shows. According to projections from scientists at the UK’s Met Office and University of Exeter, in a scenario with very high …

North Sea Ship Collision Could Cost Insurers Up to $100M, Hitting Marine Line’s Profits

The collision of a cargo ship and a fuel tanker off the eastern coast of England in the North Sea is likely to hit multiple marine insurance policies, carrying an estimated combined insured value of between $50 million and $100 …

UK Corporate Distress at Level Last Seen Post-COVID, Report Says

Distress among UK companies has risen for a third consecutive year, to its highest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal. A&M found that 11.2% of UK firms suffered …

Berkshire, Progressive Are Underwriting Profit Leaders; Industry Sets Income Record

S&P Global Market Intelligence expects the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry to post more than $100 billion of net income for 2024β€”and that the biggest underwriting profits contributing to the figure will come from units of Berkshire Hathaway and Progressive. The …

Most Execs Feel More Stressed at Start of 2025 Than 2024: Sentry

More than two-thirds of executives polled in a recent survey reported feeling more stressed at the beginning of 2025 than they did at the start of 2024. The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Sentry Insurance, found stress …

Report Cites Increase in Worker Fatalities Across New York

New York State experienced 74 worker deaths in 2023, a 48% increase over 2022’s 50 deaths, according to an annual report by an occupational safety nonprofit. The report by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) found …

Maryland Wildfire Damage Less Extensive in 2024 Despite Severe Fall Fire Weather

The number of wildfires in Maryland during 2024 was much higher than the ten-year average, but acreage burned was significantly lower. In Maryland, 165 fires burned 953.4 acres during 2024, compared to 199 wildfires in 2023 that burned approximately 4,483 …

Casualty Reinsurance Capacity Is Plentiful but Availability Crisis Could Be Looming

Reinsurers continued to provide ample casualty reinsurance capacity through the recent January 2025 renewal season – despite concerns about adverse reserve development — however, an availability crisis could be looming, AM Best cautions. In a new report, AM Best points …

Europe’s Warming Ocean Current ‘Unlikely’ to Collapse This Century

A new study disputes a long-held fear that climate change will lead to a quick, total collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the ocean current that brings warmth to northwestern Europe. Scientists from the UK’s Met Office and …