According to the MarketScout insuranceexchange, the U.S. composite rate for all property and casualtylines across all states was up 1% in February after a flat January2015. Personal insurance rates held stable at plus 2%.

Pricing measurements by coverage classification reflected nofurther price deterioration in any line and an increase of 1% inauto, professional liability, and EPI from plus 1% to plus 2%.

By account size, large accounts ($250,001 to $1,000,000 premium)increased from flat to plus 1% while all other account sizesremained the same as in January 2015.

When measuring by industry classification, contacting,habitational, public entity, and transportation all increased by 1%in February 2015 as compared to January 2015.

Is this an aberration?

Insurers are not going to cut deep and long in thiscycle

"February is normally a low volume premium month so we wouldcaution about putting too much credibility in these metrics;however, historically once the insurance market starts softening itnormally accelerates rather than moderates or turns around,"said MarketScout CEO Richard Kerr in a statement announcingthe findings.

"We speculate insurers are not going to cut deep and long inthis cycle. Big data, modeling software and improved underwritingacumen are resulting in insurers simply being too smart to fall forextended and deep price cuts."

Here are the composite raw numbers from MarketScout:

Learn more about the continued price stability in the U.S.personal lines market on the next page.

Personal rates

In February 2015, U.S. rates for homeowners insurance forhomes under $1,000,000 value were down slightly from plus 3% toplus 2%, matching the rate increase for homeowners insurancecovering homes valued over $1,000,000. Automobile rates remained atplus 2%. Personal articles rates were up 1%.

"We expect continued price stability in the U.S. personal linesmarket," according to Kerr. "The only area where personallines rates are changing notably is in catastrophe exposednon-admitted homeowners’ placements. In 2014, more insurers enteredthis space so the additional competition created some downward ratepressure. However, it appears the new entrants have utilized mostof their dedicated cat capacity very early. Rates are trendinghigher for non-admitted cat capacity. The patient will berewarded."

Here's a summary of the Feburary 2015 personal lines rates.