Global Insurance Market Quarterly Briefing – December 2012

In the US, insureds are beginning to feel some of the effects of Superstorm Sandy, with insurers increasing their push for rate increases.

Global insurance rates continued to firm in the fourth quarter of 2012, but at a slower rate than in the previous quarter, despite the mounting cost to the insurance industry of Superstorm Sandy. 

The Marsh Risk Management Global Insurance Index, a composite or weighted average of rate change activity over the preceding four quarters in major lines of insurance business, rose slightly to 101.2 from 100.9 in the third quarter. The index was based at 100.0 in the second quarter of 2012.