Commercial insurance market projects stability as rates moderate across most lines of business

Rhea-AI Summary

WTW's latest Insurance Marketplace Realities report indicates stability in commercial insurance rates across North America for 2024. Key findings include:

- New capital in reinsurance and retail markets has increased competition, except in umbrella and excess liability.
- Capacity remains a driving force for soft market conditions in financial lines.
- The Cyber market projects flat to mid-single digit rate decreases for most renewals.
- Umbrella & Excess liability faces disruption due to rising loss costs, with renewal rates pushing past high single-digit.

The report predicts relatively stable renewal conditions across most lines, barring major disruptions like hurricanes. Key price predictions for 2024 include variations in Property, Casualty, Executive risks, and Political risk categories.

Positive

• Increased competition for premium market share due to new capital in reinsurance and retail markets
• Soft market conditions for financial lines driven by ample capacity
• Cyber market projecting flat to mid-single digit rate decreases across most renewals
• Relatively stable renewal conditions expected across most lines of business

Negative

• Disruption in Umbrella & Excess liability with renewal rates pushing past high single-digit
• Rising loss costs in casualty due to factors like legal system abuse and litigation financing
• Potential market disruption from major hurricanes, with growing probability as Hurricane Milton approaches

NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the latest Insurance Marketplace Realities report from WTW (Willis Towers Watson, NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, commercial insurance rates have demonstrated balance and stability throughout the year across North America. Jon Drummond, Head of Broking, North America, WTW, commented, “The industry has not categorically rewritten its position on any one line of business, but rather has taken micro-actions reacting to emerging trends.”

WTW reports that new capital in both the reinsurance and retail marketplace has led to increased competition for premium market share, excluding umbrella and excess liability. This trend has played out across the industry, which is particularly meaningful in 1^st party business where capacity was a challenge at the outset of 2024.

Capacity remains a driving force in delivering soft market conditions for financial lines. While WTW advises that it may be premature to call it a trend, there appears to be mounting focus on rate adequacy in mid-excess Directors & Officers Liability. In addition, the Cyber market projects flat to mid-single digit rate decreases across most renewals in the near term.

In casualty, Umbrella & Excess liability has seen the most amount of disruption. Loss costs continue to rise due to factors including legal system abuse, litigation financing, and the growth of concerns such as forever chemicals, to which the insurance market has responded by reducing lines of capacity available to insureds and pushing renewal rates past high single-digit.

WTW’s Marketplace Realities report concludes that while the industry is facing evolutionary change across many lines of business – e.g. climate change, nuclear verdicts, new capital entrants, etc. – the market should deliver relatively stable renewal conditions across most lines of business as the year comes to a close.

Drummond added, “It goes without saying that the current state of affairs might only be one major hurricane away from being upended, and with Milton knocking on the door, the probability of disruption is growing.”

Key Price Predictions for 2024

Property
CAT-exposed	-5% to +10%
Non-CAT exposed	-5% to +5%
Domestic casualty
General liability	+2% to +8%
Umbrella (high hazard)	+8% to +15%
Excess (high hazard)	+10% +
Excess (low hazard)	+2% to +7%
Workers’ compensation	-5% to +2%
Auto	+4% to +10%
International	Flat
Executive risks
Directors’ and officers’ public company (primary)	-10% to Flat
Directors’ and officers’ private / not-for-profit (overall)	-10% to Flat
Side A / DIC	-10% to Flat
Errors and omissions (large law firms)	+2% to +8%
Employment practices liability (primary)	-5% to +5%
Fiduciary (financial institutions)	-5% to +5%
Cyber
Cyber	-5% to Flat
Political risk
Most risks	Flat to +20%
Terrorism and political violence
Terrorism and sabotage	Flat to +10%        Non-volatile territories +10% to +25%     Volatile territories
Political violence	Flat to +15%        Non-volatile territories +15% to +30%     Volatile territories

About WTW

At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you. Learn more at wtwco.com.

Media Contacts

Douglas Menelly, Public Relations Lead, North America
Douglas.Menelly@wtwco.com | +1 (516) 972 0380

Arnelle Sullivan, Public Relations Associate, North America
Arnelle.Sullivan@wtwco.com | +1 (718) 208-0474

FAQ

What are the key findings of WTW's Insurance Marketplace Realities report for 2024?

The report indicates stability in commercial insurance rates across North America, increased competition due to new capital, soft market conditions in financial lines, flat to decreasing rates in the Cyber market, and disruption in Umbrella & Excess liability with high single-digit renewal rates.

How are property insurance rates expected to change in 2024 according to WTW?

WTW predicts CAT-exposed property rates to range from -5% to +10%, while non-CAT exposed property rates are expected to range from -5% to +5% in 2024.

What are the projected rate changes for Directors' and Officers' insurance in 2024?

According to WTW's report, D&O rates for public companies (primary) are expected to range from -10% to Flat, while private/not-for-profit D&O rates are also projected to be -10% to Flat in 2024.

How is the Cyber insurance market expected to perform in 2024 based on WTW's report?

WTW's report projects that the Cyber insurance market will see flat to mid-single digit rate decreases across most renewals in 2024, with rates ranging from -5% to Flat.