In June, reinsurance intermediaries Guy Carpenter and Aon Benfield both reported that reinsurance catastrophe renewal pricing for Florida-influenced programs increased approximately 15 percent over 2008. The year-on-year increase took into account a number of factors. Of importance to Florida insurance professionals is that included in that list was the ongoing concerns about the adequacy of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund with respect to its ability to make full or timely payments when needed.

In markets not linked to property, the pricing news is mixed. For most commercial specialty classes of business, rates are not increasing and in some cases may still be falling. Whether this is viewed as good news or bad news depends on whether you are buying or selling, prospecting or renewing, paying claims or producing.

The pricing trend in the commercial lines market, especially on the surplus lines side, is more of the same. Mike Franzese, vice president of Burns & Wilcox in Tampa, said, "I haven't seen the property markets firm up at all at this point. It may be happening on the larger accounts and excess layers, but not based on my experience."