Skip to main content
Marsh logo

Global Insurance Market Update

Continental Europe Pricing Q1 2022

Insurance pricing in the first quarter of 2022 in Continental Europe (CE) increased 6%, compared to 9% in the fourth quarter of 2021.

25/04/2022

Property and D&O lines continue to stabilise

Insurance pricing in the first quarter of 2022 in Continental Europe (CE) increased 6%, compared to 9% in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Constant bar chart represents Global Insurance Composite Pricing Change.

Property insurance pricing in CE rose 6%, a decrease from 10% in the prior quarter.

  • CAT-exposed risks remained challenging and experienced the largest increases, though at a reduced level compared to prior quarters.
  • Competition for new business increased among European domestic carriers, leading to downward pressure on rates.
  • Insurers demonstrated an increased focus on adequacy of valuations, due to the challenging environment caused by rapidly rising inflation.
  • Despite softening of rates, insurers remain disciplined with respect to capacity deployment and aggregation.
  • Changes in wordings and an aggressive approach by carriers remained a challenge, especially with regard to application of additional war and sanctions exclusions in respect of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Casualty insurance pricing increased 6%, down from 7% in the fourth quarter of 2021. 

  • Rates showed signs of stabilisation, but regional variation remains, with some territories experiencing double-digit rate increases.
  • Loss impacted renewals continued to be the most challenging, with insurers looking to restrict capacity.
  • Excess casualty and US-exposed placements remained challenging, with some countries in the region experiencing general liability pricing increases as high as 20%.
  • Insurers expressing particular concerns around social and general inflation and US auto market exposure; clients with large US auto fleets experienced significant price increases.
  • Some clients experienced increases in workers’ compensation, generally due to limited capacity.
  • Enhanced war and sanctions exclusions were imposed in respect of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Financial and professional lines pricing increased 9%, down from 13% in the prior quarter. 

  • The D&O market was affected by an influx of new capacity and an improvement in profitability leading to rate reductions on select programs with adequate pricing.
  • FI and professional liability pricing continued to moderate, with average increases of 9%. Insurers also demonstrated an appetite for new business.
  • Cyber remained an outlier, with a rate increase of 80% driven by capacity reductions and ransomware issues. Concerns about systemic exposures and accumulation risk persisted, resulting in cautious capacity deployment and risk selection, and increased information requirements. Clients continue to turn to self-retention captives.

Global Insurance Market Index – 2022 Q1

Download full report

Explore the report

Panorama of Chicago

Global Insurance Market Index

US Pricing

Insurance pricing in the first quarter of 2022 in the US increased 12% — a slight reduction on the same rate of increase compared to the prior two quarters.
Skyline of London over Tower Bridge on the Thames

Global Insurance Market Index

UK Pricing

Insurance pricing in the first quarter of 2022 in the UK increased 20%, compared to 22% in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Placeholder Image

Global Insurance Market Index

Latin America and Caribbean Pricing

Insurance pricing in the first quarter in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region increased 6%.
January 10, 2019. Sydney, Australia. Landscape aerial view of Sydney Opera house near Sydney business center around the harbour.

Global Insurance Market Index

Pacific Pricing

Insurance pricing in the Pacific region increased 10%, down from 13% in the prior quarter and the fifth consecutive quarterly reduction in rate increase.
beautiful nanpu bridge at dusk,crosses huangpu river,shanghai,China

Global Insurance Market Index

Asia Pricing

Insurance pricing in the first quarter of 2022 in Asia increased 3%, down from 4% in the prior quarter, as price increases continue to moderate.