Research and Trends News

Insurers Deploy Predictive Analytics, Artificial Intelligence in Fraud Fight

Insurers are getting a larger share of suspicious claim referrals from fraud-detection technology and are increasingly using artificial intelligence to sift through data, according to a new study by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and SAS. The Insurance Fraud Technology …

Take This Year’s Agency Salary Survey: Deadline Friday

Each year Insurance Journal asks retail agency owners, principals, producers, CSRs — the entire agency — to participate in the Insurance Journal Agency Salary Survey for publication in Insurance Journal magazine. Participation in the survey takes about 15 minutes to …

Crop Insurance Payouts Rise as Climate Change Worsens Droughts, Floods

Insurance payments to U.S. farmers for crops lost to droughts and flooding have risen more than threefold over the past 25 years, according to an analysis of federal data by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released on Thursday. The report …

Climate Risk Is Top London Market Challenge, IUA Survey Shows

The top challenge currently facing London market insurance companies is climate risk, a new survey by the International Underwriting Association (IUA) has revealed. In a survey of its members, the organization recorded 27% of respondents mentioning climate change and wider …

Only 38% of 2021’s Natural Disaster Losses of $343B Were Covered by Insurance: Aon

Natural disasters cost global economies a total of $343 billion in 2021, compared with $297 billion in 2020, according to Aon’s “2021 Weather, Climate and Catastrophe Insight” report. Insured losses from 2021’s natural disasters reached $130 billion, which was well …

U.S. Surplus Lines Premium Up 22% in 2021

Surplus lines premium increased 22% and transactions rebounded almost 6.6% over their 2020 totals in the 15 states with designated surplus lines stamping offices. The increases represented record levels of premium ($51 billion) and transactions (5.3 million) since the stamping …

Regional Cyber Conflicts Could Lead to Infrastructure Attacks in 2022: CyberCube

Three regional cyber conflicts could lead to infrastructure attacks and damaging cyber espionage in 2022, a new report from cyber analytics company CyberCube says. The current cyber landscape, cyber hostilities between Israel and Iran, India and Pakistan, and China and …

Loss Experience Drives Prices During January Reinsurance Renewals: Fitch

Loss-affected lines of business, such as property catastrophe in Europe, cyber or retrocession, continued to see significant price increases during the January 2022 reinsurance renewals, while loss-free lines of business attracted additional capital, which caused prices to stay stationary or …

Number of Insurance Agency M&As Rose 30% in 2021: OPTIS Partners

There were 1,034 announced insurance agency mergers and acquisitions in 2021, up 30% from 795 reported in 2020, according to agency consultancy OPTIS Partners. Also, the 384 deals during the fourth quarter of 2021 marked a 26% increase over the …

UK Car Insurance Premiums Expected to Be Volatile in 2022: Survey

The cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy in Britain is expected to be volatile this year, after rising 5% in the final quarter of 2021 as more drivers took to roads on easing COVID-19 curbs, a survey showed on …