U.S. commercial insurance rates increased 2.5% in the first quarter of 2026, marking a third consecutive quarter of moderating rate increases, according to the latest findings from WTW’s Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey (CLIPS).
The survey measures changes in commercial insurance pricing by comparing premiums for policies underwritten during the quarter with those for the same coverage lines in the prior year. Carriers reported an aggregate price increase of 2.5% in Q1 2026, down from 5.3% in Q1 2025.
Pricing trends softened across most commercial lines, including Small Commercial, Mid-Market Commercial, and Large Account Commercial accounts. Excess/Umbrella Liability remained the line with the highest increases, though it declined from the previous quarter. Commercial Auto rate increases fell below double digits for the first time since the third quarter of 2023. Pricing trends across all other lines were largely unchanged or slightly lower than the prior quarter.
“The first quarter results reflect a continuation of the moderating pricing environment observed over recent quarters,” said Yi Jing, Managing Director, Insurance Consulting and Technology (ICT). “While Commercial Auto and Excess/Umbrella Liability continue to experience the largest increases, the pace of those increases has eased, with pricing trends across much of the market remaining stable.”
CLIPS is a retrospective look at historical changes in Commercial Property & Casualty insurance (P&C) prices and claims cost inflation. A forward-looking analysis of Commercial P&C trends, outlook, and rate predictions can be found in WTW’s Insurance Marketplace Realities series.
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