"Ivans Index": Commercial Lines Rates Continue to Soften in Q1 2026

Ivans has announced the results of Q1 2026 Ivans Index: Premium Renewal Rate Index. First-quarter results showed the premium renewal rate change remained up year over year across all major commercial lines except workers compensation; however, all lines experienced a decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2025.

Premium renewal rate change by line of business for the first quarter of 2026 highlights include the following.

• Commercial auto. The premium renewal rate change averaged 5.28 percent for the first quarter, decreasing from 6.97 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. The quarter began at 5.62 percent in January and declined to 5.05 percent in March.
• Businessowners policy (BOP). The quarter premium renewal rate change averaged 6.74 percent, down from 7.52 percent in the prior quarter. The BOP renewal rate change reached a high of 6.89 percent in January and declined to 6.51 percent in March.
• General liability. The first-quarter premium renewal rate change averaged 6.85 percent compared to 7.23 percent in Q4 2025. The general liability renewal rate peaked at 7.01 percent in February and fell to 6.64 percent in March.
• Commercial property. The first-quarter premium renewal rate change averaged 6.83 percent, decreasing from 8.01 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. The rate reached 7.22 percent in January before declining to 6.23 percent in March.
• Umbrella. The quarter premium renewal rate change averaged 9.36 percent, slightly down from 9.49 percent in Q4 2025. The rate began at 10.47 percent in January and declined to 8.76 percent in March.
• Workers compensation. The premium renewal rate change averaged -1.73 percent for the first quarter, compared to -1.61 percent in the fourth quarter. The rate reached a low of -2.17 percent in January and reached its highest rate change of -1.43 percent in February.

"Q1 sets an important baseline for 2026, with commercial rates continuing to soften as the market adjusts to a more moderate pace of change," said Michael Streit, president at Ivans.

The Ivans Index, released monthly, is a data-driven report on current conditions and trends for premium rate renewal change of the most placed commercial lines of business in the insurance industry. Based on analysis of more than 120 million data transactions, the Ivans Index premium renewal rate change measures the premium difference year over year for a single consistent policy. It includes more than 38,000 agencies and 600 insurers and managing general agents and reflects premium rate change trends experienced by all agencies and insurers across the US insurance market. The Ivans Index is available to agencies and insurers as part of Market Insights.