IVANS: Nearly all major commercial lines see Q1 2020 renewal rate increase
However, workers' compensation average premium renewal rate change remained in negative territory.
The first-quarter results for 2020 show an increase premium renewal rate change across nearly all major commercial lines of business, including commercial auto, business owners policies (BOP), general liability, umbrella and commercial property insurance compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, according to data from IVANS, a division of Applied Systems.
However, the workers’ compensation average premium renewal rate change remained in negative territory, albeit up from year-end 2019 results. Notably, all lines of business, including workers’ compensation, experienced higher average premium renewal rate change from the quarter prior. Commercial property experienced a significant quarterly high at 5.14%.
Line by line
Here is a breakdown of the premium renewal rate change by line of business for the first quarter of 2020:
- Commercial auto: Averaged 4.81% for the quarter, with a quarter high in February at 5.58%. February marked the first quarter premium renewal rate change high for the third straight year.
- BOP: Averaged 4.65%, representing an increase over last quarter’s average of 4.57%. BOP premium renewal rate change finished the quarter at 4.85% in March.
- General liability: The first quarter increased from the fourth quarter, averaging 3.08% change relative to 2.60%. The quarter premium renewal rate change reached its low of 3.02% in January, which was the lowest month in the first quarter of 2019.
- Commercial property: The first quarter premium renewal rate change increased to 5.14%, reaching a quarter high in both February and March at 5.28%.
- Umbrella: The first quarter premium renewal rate change averaged 3.06% versus 2.61% in the fourth quarter. Umbrella premium renewal rate change for the quarter reached its high in March at 3.22%.
- Workers’ compensation: The average premium renewal rate change for the quarter reached -1.81%, up from the fourth quarter average of -2.84%.
“The IVANS Index provides a data-driven pulse on the market, indicating hardening and softening trends across major commercial lines of business,” Brian Wood, vice president of Data Products Group, IVANS Insurance Services, said in a statement. “Q1 2020 experienced an increase in premium renewal rate change across all major commercial lines, and we expect to see marked change in the coming months as the industry responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The IVANS Index is a data-driven monthly and quarterly report that forecasts current insurance business conditions and trends based on analysis of more than 120 million data transactions from more than 30,000 agencies and 380 insurers and MGAs. The complete Q1 IVANS Index Report is available here.
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