The composite rate for U.S. personal lines was up 3% forOctober, according to the MarketScout insurance exchange.

Homeowners insurance in the U.S. increased an aggregate of 3% inOctober 2014, regardless of home value. Automobile rates remainedsteady from September, at +2%, and Personal Article rates did thesame at +1%.

Personal Lines insurers are going to have a good 2014 “despite alarge number of micro storms, which resulted in notable claimsactivities,” MarketScout CEO Richard Kerr said in a statement.“Rates should remain stable and actually adjust downward a bit moreby year end.”

Commercial Rate Picture

According to MarketScout, the composite rate for U.S. Commercialinsurance was +1% in October 2014.

That's essentially in line with September, with the exception ofCommercial Auto and Professional Liability coverages—which wereboth up one percentage point from the prior month, coming in at +3%and +2%, respectively. On the flip side, Property and Workers' Comprates both fell by one percentage point in October.

“As expected, the U.S. composite commercial rate continues itsslow slide,” says Kerr. “We are almost completely past hurricaneseason, so we expect continued pressure on Property rates.”Workers' Compensation rates are also down from last month, henotes; however, a few large insurers could be facing somechallenges on their comp books. If so, he adds, “this couldmoderate the slide in WC premiums.”

By account size, only small accounts (up to $25,000) changedfrom the prior month as they decreased one percentage point to +2%.Medium ($25,001 to $250,000) and large ($250,001 to $1 million)accounts are unchanged at +2% and +1%, respectively. Accountsgreater than $1 million remain flat.

Broken down by industry, Contracting, Service and Transportationwere all down one percentage point in October from the month prior,and nearly all of the other industries MarketScout tracks remainedunchanged. Manufacturing and Energy lines were the lone exceptions,both rising one percentage point to +2%.