Commercial Insurance Prices in the U.S. Edged Up 0.5%

U.S. commercial insurance prices grew again in the second quarter of 2026, according to WTW’s most recent Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey (CLIPS). The survey compared prices charged on policies underwritten during the second quarter of 2026 with those charged for the same coverage during the same quarter in 2025. The aggregate commercial price change reported by carriers spiked upward to nearly 10% in the second through fourth quarters of 2020 before starting to decline. Falling to just below 5% in the fourth quarter of 2022, it then increased to above 6% in the second quarter of 2023 and stayed at around 6% through the first quarter of 2025 before dropping to 0.5% in the second quarter of 2026.

Line of business

With the exception of workers compensation, commercial property and cyber, data for all other surveyed lines continued to indicate price increases in the second quarter of 2026. Most of the lines had a similar or lower price change compared with the prior quarter. The largest price increases continued to come from excess/umbrella liability but dropped to a high-single-digit increase. The price increase for commercial auto continued to be below double digits. The largest price decrease came from commercial property. After having several quarters of price decreases, directors’ and officers’ liability had a small price increase in the second quarter.

Account size price changes

When comparing account sizes, reported price increases in the second quarter of 2026 were slightly lower than the prior quarter for small and mid-market, while large account had its first price decrease since the end of 2017. Specialty lines continued to have a small price increase as a result of the price increase in professional liability as well as a small price increase in directors’ and officers’ liability.