Casualty rates climbed through the fourth quarter of 2012 and are positioned to continue their ascent in 2013, according to a recent report from Marsh.

In its “Benchmarking Trends: Casualty Rates Edging Upward” report, the brokerage says the rate increases are likely to be felt “unevenly” across various industry sectors and depend upon client-specific risk factors.

The report focuses on four U.S. Casualty lines: General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Auto Liability and Umbrella/Excess Casualty.

• Of the four, Umbrella/Excess saw the greatest percentage of clients experience increases (56 percent). Twenty-nine percent of clients in this line saw no change in rates, while 15 percent experienced decreases. The average increase for Umbrella/Excess was 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter, up from 3.2 percent in 2012’s third quarter.

• Fifty-four percent of General Liability clients experienced increases, 18 percent saw no change in rates, and 28 percent experienced decreases. The average rate increase was 2.1 percent. Marsh notes that clients with exceptionally good loss histories, strong safety controls, and lower hazard exposures generally continued to secure decreases at renewal. While terms and conditions for GL for the most part remained unchanged, underwriting scrutiny increased, which translated into longer processing times.

• In Workers’ Comp, 51 percent of clients experienced rate increases, 16 percent saw no change, and 33 percent experienced decreases. The average rate increase was 2.9 percent. Marsh says this line of business has operated at a “historically unprofitable level for insurers.” Carriers sought to return to profitability through rate increases and higher retentions. “Employers that favorably differentiated their claims management and loss-control programs generally fared best, while those willing to take more control through loss-sensitive programs tended to be more insulated from rate increases,” says Marsh.

• Auto liability remained “relatively stable throughout 2012,” Marsh says, with the percentage of clients seeing rate increases running in the 40s throughout the year. The percentage of clients experiencing increases was greatest in Q4 (47 percent). Twenty-four percent had no change in rates while 30 percent received decreases. The average rate increase was 1.9 percent in the quarter.

Most insurers sought increases for this line, says Marsh, but typically agreed on rates that were lower than the original quote.

Special Reports /

Rise in Casualty Rates Expected to Continue Into 2013

Related Stories

Recommended For You