Growth in Q1 2015 profitability for P&C insurers

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Private U.S. property/casualty insurers’ net income after taxes rose from $13.9 billion in the first quarter of 2014 to $18.2 billion in the first quarter of 2015. Measured by their rate of return on average policy holders’ surplus, insurers’ overall profitability grew from 8.4% to 10.8%, according to ISO, a Verisk Analytics business, and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).

In the first quarter of 2015, insurers’ combined ratio improved to 95.7%, compared to 97.1% in first quarter of 2014, and their net underwriting gains increased from $2.4 billion to $4.1 billion. Net written premium growth remained at a steady 3.7% for the first quarters of 2014 and 2015.  In the first quarter of 2015, net investment income rose to $11.7 billion up from the previous $11.2 billion a year.