WASHINGTON–Three property-casualty trade groups on Saturday made an impassioned plea before state legislators, defending the appropriateness of using education and occupation data in setting rates for personal lines products.

In a joint statement, the American Insurance Association, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America told the state legislators that consumers benefit with lower rates, more choices and greater market stability when insurers are able to use such data.

Representatives of the three groups told members of the National Conference of State Legislators at their spring meeting here that such tools lead to "accurate underwriting." They called use of such data "objective and supported by statistical evidence."