Industry Trends

A new Big “I” survey finds consumers embrace AI-powered service but still want the expertise and guidance of a dedicated human insurance agent.

While the first half of 2026 saw strong underwriting results, certain lines of business remained challenged and regional catastrophe exposures still poses significant long-term risk.

To date, no major hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S. during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Does a quiet year signal that hurricane risk is easing? The evidence suggests no.

Continued wage growth across major trades reflected ongoing skilled labor shortages, capacity limitations and a demand for specialized construction services.

Almost 2 in 3 independent insurance agents used AI on the job at least a few times in the past year, making agency governance all the more crucial.

Best Practices agencies continue to deliver excellent profitability above pre-pandemic historical averages, even as organic growth slowed due to a softening property & casualty market.

Personal auto and homeowners helped propel the property & casualty market to a $61.2 billion underwriting profit and a combined ratio of 93. However, commercial auto and liability lines continue to face challenges.

After several years of hard market conditions, agencies are renewing emphasis on retention—and those making the most progress are not relying on renewal conversations alone.

The solution enables carriers to proactively deliver renewal quotes directly within Applied Epic before agencies begin the remarketing process. 

Local catastrophes caused intense regional volatility, according to Verisk, but overall lower claim volume contributed to the property & casualty industry’s strong first-quarter results.