Liberty Mutual Group reported net income dropped 9 percent in the second quarter of this year, which the company's chief executive said was acceptable under present market conditions.

William R. Berkley, chairman and chief executive of W.R. Berkley Corp., said he believes earning conditions within the insurance industry point to inevitable price increases occurring by the end of this year or the beginning of 2010.

Some consumers living in states not requiring auto insurance coverage will be unable to secure the government subsidies offered for trading in gas guzzling vehicles for low mileage ones, according to rules released for the program.

It was quite impressive to see over 1,000 agents march on Capitol Hill this month to make sure Congress doesn't take their role for granted in the helter-skelter debate to reshape the health insurance system.