A Texas agents group said its latest survey has found that standard carriers are providing the state's consumers with better homeowners coverage and lower premiums on home and auto insurance.

The findings were announced by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas after survey of more than 1,800 member agencies.

IIAT said nearly half of agents surveyed are reporting broader homeowners insurance coverage among standard carriers and a similar percentage report lower average premium prices.

Randy Reynolds, IIAT president, said, "The results show a continuing trend that we discovered in a similar survey conducted among members last year. Our results also show that auto policy premiums are down on average compared to a year ago. The results tell me that competition in the marketplace is keen and good for the consumer."

According to IIAT, 60 percent of independent agencies surveyed report that homeowners insurance coverage written by standard carriers has improved in the last year. During 2005, some 65 percent of agencies offered broader coverage than was available barely two years ago, the survey found.

IIAT noted that broader coverage typically costs more, but for 2005 the survey shows that average pricing for homeowners insurance is lower than a year ago.

The group said that, perhaps most significantly independent agents reported more companies wanting to write personal lines insurance in Texas and more than 60 percent reported an increase in the number of companies they could represent this year.

Mr. Reynolds said, "The best way for consumers to take advantage of this insurance marketplace is to work with an independent agent they trust to get the best deal," said Reynolds.

Nearly 48 percent of agencies in the IIAT survey said homeowners insurance prices have dropped in the last year by an average of 10 percent among companies represented by independent agencies. A fourth of those agencies surveyed report no significant changes in pricing this year compared to last.

IIAT with more than 1,800 agencies represents a network of some 13,000 agents and their employees.