Specialty insurance rates fell more sharply in the first half of 2026 and at the July renewals, with all 15 material insurance and reinsurance classes recording decreases after adjustment for claims trends, a WTW survey found.

Key Takeaways

  • Insurance and reinsurance rates fell 4% gross of trend and 6% net of trend in the first half of 2026.
  • Property rates had the steepest decline at the July renewals, falling 17% net of trend.
  • Casualty rate increases at the July renewals did not keep pace with WTW’s estimated claims trend.

Specialty insurance rates weakened across classes

WTW said insurance softened at approximately twice the pace seen in 2025, while reinsurance softened three to four times faster. At the July 1 renewals, rates fell 6% gross of trend and 9% net of trend.

The survey covers specialty insurers in the London, Bermuda and US excess and surplus markets. It draws on approximately $300 billion in gross written premium over a 10-year cycle, including $50 billion in 2025 and $29 billion in the first half of 2026.

WTW estimated that rates net of claims and exposure trends rose approximately 50% cumulatively between 2017 and the market peak in 2023. By July 2026, around 65% of those gains had been eroded.

Property leads declines as casualty costs outpace rates

Property recorded the steepest reduction at the July renewals, with rates down 17% net of trend. Energy and financial and professional liability rates fell by high-single-digit percentages, although WTW identified early signs of stabilization in US financial and professional liability.

Marine rates declined by mid-single digits, while aviation and accident and health saw low-single-digit reductions.

Casualty rates rose 6% at the July renewals, but that increase was below WTW’s estimated claims trend of 8%, excluding exposure trend. WTW said this implied an effective 2% rate reduction, a change that had not yet been evident in the January renewal data.

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