U.S. commercial insurance prices again grew significantly in the first quarter of 2020, according to Willis Towers Watson’s most recent Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey (CLIPS).

The survey compared prices charged on policies underwritten during the first quarter of 2020 to those charged for the same coverage during the same quarter in 2019.

The aggregate commercial price change reported by carriers was close to 2% for all four quarters of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019, climbing to almost 4% in the second quarter, almost 5% in the third quarter of 2019, and over 6% for the past two quarters.

Data for nearly all lines indicated significant price increases in the first quarter, with the largest coming from excess/umbrella liability and directors and officers liability, as both coverages saw significantly accelerating increases over the past three quarters.

However CLIPS indicates ongoing material price reductions for workers compensation, in contrast to nearly all other surveyed lines, though the decreases have tempered somewhat for each of the last five quarters.

The past outlier in the results, commercial auto, saw reported price increases near or above double digits for the tenth consecutive quarter, while property coverage saw near double digit increases for the fourth consecutive quarter.

Price changes for most lines other lines were fairly consistent with those observed in the prior quarter.

When comparing account sizes, reported price changes were more muted for small commercial accounts, higher for mid-market accounts, and approaching double digits for large accounts, whereas the prices were fairly consistent by account size four quarters ago.

Specialty lines price increases in aggregate were above double digits increases for the second consecutive quarter.