The U.S. commercial market continues to moderate, exhibited bythe composite rate for February 2014 at plus 2% compared with plus3% in January, according to MarketScout.

By coverage class, commercial propertyplacements were up to plus 3% from plus 2% the prior month, andbusiness owners policies (BOP) were up to plus 4% from plus 3% inJanuary.

Umbrella, workers’ compensation and general liability, however,did not fare as well, all down 1% in February 2014 as compared tothe prior month.

By account size, small and medium accounts were down by 1%. Byindustry class, manufacturing, contracting, service and energyaccounts all were down an additional 1% as compared to January'sresults.

“Today, more so than any time in recent history, the U.S.insurance market has attracted the attention of some very smartpeople with accessto serious capital,” Richard Kerr, MarketScout'sCEO, said in a statement. “If the money guys connect with insurancepros and decide to proceed with implementing even one-third of theplans under consideration, absent a catastrophic event, we predict the US commercial market will continueto moderate and rates will ultimately start to decrease towards thelater part of 2014.”

Personal lines insurers, meanwhile, held pricing steady at plus2% for February. The only rate adjustment as compared to the priormonth was for high valued homeowners’ policies: Homes valued over$1,000,000 were at plus 3% in February as compared to plus 4% inJanuary.

“Winter storms created some losses but none significant enoughto move the market," Kerr noted. "There will be spring storms butthe hurricane season remains the real market mover for personallines insurers. So, for the next several months, we expect steadyresults and no significant rate movement.”

The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Researchconducted pricing surveys used in MarketScout's analysis of marketconditions.