U.S. Commercial Insurance Rates Moderate as Specialized Risk Control Gains Traction

In the third quarter of 2025, U.S. commercial insurance rates held steady at a 3.8% increase, continuing a trend of rate moderation following a period of significant rate hikes. This steadiness reflects a cooling of intense pricing pressures seen earlier in the year and compared with the previous year's 6.1% rate increase. Specific lines such as workers' compensation, directors and officers liability, cyber insurance, and commercial property have experienced price declines, indicating a broader market easing. Excess and umbrella liability insurance, however, continues to show elevated pricing growth, although rate increases in this segment have slowed. Commercial auto insurance remains an outlier with consistent double-digit rate hikes, maintaining one of the fastest rising lines in the market. Pricing trends have shown variance by account size; smaller and mid-sized accounts have benefited from more moderate increases, while large accounts still face higher pricing, though at a reduced rate compared to previous quarters. These dynamics underscore the differentiated rate environment across market segments. Separately, a Travelers study outlines risks and opportunities related to mergers and acquisitions in the manufacturing sector, highlighting the complexity of risk considerations in specialized industries. In Delaware, pooled resources and safety initiatives have stabilized workers’ compensation costs for municipalities, demonstrating the impact of collaborative risk management efforts. Organizations utilizing micro-captive insurance are facing increased IRS scrutiny and evolving reporting requirements. Maintaining compliance while leveraging benefits necessitates strategic risk management decisions for captive owners. The evolving complexity of industries such as telecommunications, medical technology, and information technology has prompted insurers to deploy specialists with industry-specific knowledge focused on tailored risk control. This specialized approach allows insurance partners to deliver consultative risk management services that address the unique operational challenges and exposures in each sector. Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions exemplifies this trend by employing risk control professionals with deep sector expertise who work closely with clients to develop targeted interventions. For instance, in a telecommunications client scenario, focused fleet management improvements helped stabilize losses and preserved the client's insurability, demonstrating the value of proactive risk control partnerships. This integrated, consultative model of specialized risk control supports clients with diverse exposures and improves claim outcomes by prioritizing impactful operational improvements rather than generic compliance checklists. It also leverages cross-sector and global knowledge sharing to apply best practices adaptively across different regions and industries. For brokers, this expertise enhances client renewals and retention by reducing claims and operational risks throughout the policy lifecycle. The model promotes ongoing engagement rather than episodic interactions, creating sustained value for clients and carriers alike. The increasing demand for specialized risk control reflects the growing complexity of modern risks. Insurance partners who integrate deep industry insights with strategic risk management services enable clients to better navigate operational challenges, reduce claims frequency, and maintain or improve insurability over time. Companies seeking these benefits should consider partnerships with carriers that emphasize consultative, industry-specific risk control services rather than solely traditional compliance-driven approaches. This evolution signifies a shift towards risk control as a strategic business asset across the insurance industry.