(WESTWOOD, MA. � November 12, 2003) October’s life insurance application activity in North America declined 3.7% year-over-year according to the MIB Life Index. Application activity in the U.S. and Canada decreased 3.9% and 1.9% respectively compared to October 2002 levels. However, October life insurance applications in the U.S. exceeded that of September by 9.9%, a slight increase from the 9.5% historical seven-year median. In the U.S., life insurance applications are off 5% year-to-date compared to the first 10 months of 2002.
Applications in the 60+ age group continue to set records with October marking the fifth consecutive month of “highest-ever” values for a monthly time period in the MIB Life IndexSM. In the U.S., applications in the 60+ age group increased 5.6% year-over-year.The same demographic in Canada experienced a 2.9% year-over-year increase. Year-to-date, age 60+ Canadian applicants are running 7.1% higher compared to January-October 2002. North American activity in the age 45 and below demographic slipped 6.6% in October versus the same month last year. This group corresponds to 62% of total applications represented in the MIB Life Index.
The MIB Life Index
The MIB Life Index is released in summary form to the media each month, providing the earliest snapshot of the industry free of charge.
| Monthly Percent Change vs 2002 | |||
| US | Canada | Total | |
| October 2003 | -3.9% | -1.9% | -3.7% |
| September 2003 | 1.9% | 4.4% | 2.2% |
| YTD 2003 | -5.0% | -0.8% | -4.5% |
| Monthly Percent Change vs Previous Month | |||
| US | Canada | Total | |
| October 2003 | 9.9% | 8.6% | 9.7% |
About MIB Group, Inc.
MIB Group, Inc., headquartered in Westwood, Massachusetts, is the leading provider of database and information management tools to the global risk management community, and is a leading facilitator of electronic insurance commerce via dedicated networks and Internet-based systems. MIB member companies underwrite more than 95 percent of the premium dollars of individual life insurance written in the United States and Canada. More information about MIB Group, Inc. is available at www.mib.com
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