Average commercial insurance premiums decreased across all account sizes for the first time since 2017 during the first quarter. The trend continued for the second quarter.
During Q2 2026, The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB)’s market survey found premiums decreased an average of 2% across all accounts.
Large account premiums fell by 3.7% following a 2.7% decrease last quarter. Medium account decreases held steady at 1.9%, and small accounts decreased slightly, by an average of 0.5%.
Commercial property premiums dropped the most – 6.3% – during Q2. The line was one of 10 lines that saw premiums shrink in Q2: business interruption, commercial property, construction risks, cyber, D&O, employment practices, flood, marine, terrorism, and workers compensation, reported CIAB.
“Commercial property decreases were at least partially driven by carriers seeking to offset increases they asked for in lines like commercial auto and umbrella,” CIAB said. “A surplus in property capacity—75% of respondents noted an increase in capacity for the line—also exerted downward pressure on premiums as carriers competed for clients.”
Cyber and workers compensation both averaged a 3.2% decreases.
Umbrella premiums increased an average of 5.3% in Q2 2026. This was the highest increase out of all lines and was also the 35th consecutive quarter of premium increases for umbrella. Commercial auto premiums increased 4.5%.
A month later, OSHA investigators responded to another incident involving multiple worker hospitalizations on March 18, when a kettle lid opened while under pressure releasing steam, hot liquid, and organic material, burning three workers. Two workers were fatally injured and another hospitalized.
OSHA issued the employer one serious citation for the design and usage of kettles leading to pressure and thermal burn hazards; a repeat citation for exposing workers to falls to lower levels; and an other-than-serious citation for failing to notify employees working adjacent to permit-required confined spaces.