"Consumers, carriers and brokers alike are clearly on the cutting edge of pain now spreading to all segments of the U.S. economy," said Ken A. Crerar, CIAB's president in a statement.

Of the 136 broker members surveyed during the past three months, including July 1 renewals, 60 percent of respondents said premium rates rose between 10 to 30 percent. Twenty-two percent said rates rose between 30 to 50 percent.

Small firms, with commissions and fees of less than $25,000, reported the biggest jump, with 75 percent saying rates rose in the 10 to 30 percent range and 7 percent seeing rate increases for clients of between 30 to 50 percent.

On the other end of the scale, 31 percent of large firms (commissions and fees of more than $100,000) said rates were up between 30 to 50 percent and 42 percent said rates rose between 10 to 30 percent.

In individual lines, business interruption, commercial auto and general liability were reported up between 10 and 30 percent by more than 65 percent of those surveyed.

More dramatic increases were seen in areas such as medical malpractice, where 22 percent of those surveyed said increases ranged between 50 to 100 percent and 18 percent said increases were at more than 100 percent. Forty-two percent said they did not handle the line. The CIAB said brokers are reporting more and more physicians are finding they must join state assigned risk pools or do without insurance due to increased rates and strict underwriting.

Other notable increases were in construction risk, with 38 percent of the brokers reporting increases of between 30 to 50 percent and 15 percent seeing increases of between 50 to 100 percent. Umbrella saw a spread of increases where 30 percent said rates rose 10 to 30 percent; 27 percent said rates were up 30 to 50 percent; 17 percent saw 50 to 100 percent increases; and 16 percent reported increases of 100 percent or more.

The price boosts were also spread across directors and officers liability, where 32 percent of the brokers reported 10 to 30 percent increase; 28 percent said increases ranged from 30 to 50 percent; and 14 percent reported increases of 50 to 100 percent.

"The market is rough," Mr. Crerar said. "Not surprisingly, our members see increasing consumer frustration. Many industry consumers had hoped the market would settle down by the July 1 renewal period. But our survey proves categorically that did not happen."

Mr. Crerar once again called upon Congress to pass federal terrorism backstop legislation to bring some stability to the markets.

Details of the survey are available at www.ciab.com.