Research and Trends News

It’s ‘Virtually Certain’ the World Has Already Breached 1.5C Warming Limit

The world may have already missed its chance to limit global warming to 1.5C, according to two new studies in Nature Climate Change. The Paris Agreement was inked in 2015, with 196 countries agreeing to rein in greenhouse gas emissions …

Global Commercial Insurance Rates Drop in Q4 for 2nd Consecutive Quarter: Marsh

Global commercial insurance rates fell 2% in the fourth quarter of 2024 following a 1% decline in Q3 2024 – marking the second consecutive quarterly decrease following seven years of rising rates, according to the Global Insurance Market Index published …

Viewpoint: Delegated Underwriting Authority Enterprises Offer Insurers Competitive Edge

The growing adoption of data-driven underwriting and predictive analytics has given delegated underwriting authority enterprises (DUAEs) a competitive advantage within the insurance industry, with technology serving as a cornerstone for many of these operations. An AM Best survey of its …

City of London Hit Harder Than Rest of Economy Since Brexit Vote

The City of London, once considered the crown jewel of Britain’s dominant services sector, has performed even worse than the rest of the economy in the years following the Brexit referendum. Financial and insurance output has grown just 2.8% since …

Theft and Violence in UK Retail Soar to Record Levels, Survey Shows

Theft and violence against retail workers in Britain soared to record levels last year and are “out of control,” driven partly by criminal gangs, according to a report published on Thursday. Industry body the British Retail Consortium’s annual crime survey …

Climate Change Will Lead to Higher Deaths in Europe, Study Shows

As Europe gets hotter, more people are expected to die from extreme heat, outweighing the reduction in those killed by very cold weather. Cities in northern European regions such as the UK and Ireland and Scandinavia would see an overall …

2025 Agency Salary Survey: Deadline Approaching

It’s the final days to take this year’s Agency Salary Survey. All respondents will receive a copy of the report in Insurance Journal magazine. ALL retail agency owners, principals, producers, CSRs — the entire agency — should participate and be …

Oceans Are Warming Faster and Faster as the Earth Traps More Energy

The world’s oceans are warming four times faster than they were in the late 1980s, according to a new study. The alarming acceleration helps explain why 2023 and 2024 saw unprecedented ocean temperatures — and more extreme storms. The findings …

LA Fires Could Consume 30% of European Reinsurers’ Natural Disaster Budgets: Fitch

The Los Angeles wildfires could consume more than 30% of the aggregate natural catastrophe budgets set for 2025 by Europe’s four largest reinsurers – Swiss Re, Munich Re, Hannover Re and SCOR, according to a Fitch Ratings commentary. Insured losses …

‘Geoeconomic Fragmentation’ Challenges Insurers: Geneva Association

A January 2025 report from the Geneva Association, titled “Insurance in a Fragmented World Economy,” found that geopolitical tensions have driven the global economy toward “geoeconomic fragmentation.” Geoeconomics refers to the intersection of geopolitical forces and economic policies. The report …