(WESTWOOD, MA. � December 16, 2003) North American life insurance application activity declined 4.6% in November year-over-year according to the MIB Life IndexSM, marking 2003’s ninth month of decline. Application activity in the U.S. and Canada decreased 3.6% and 11% respectively when compared to November 2002 levels. Year-to-date (YTD) results reflect continued downward pressure on life insurance applications with U.S. activity declining 4.9% YTD and Canadian activity declining 1.8% YTD versus the same period, prior year.
Applications in the 60+ age group showed mixed results across North America for the first time in more than a year; yet they continue to outpace all other age demographics. In the U.S., applications in the 60+ group increased 6% year-over-year, with YTD activity up 5% over the first eleven months of 2002. Conversely, Canadian activity in the 60+ segment was off a modest 2.6% in November compared to the same period last year. This may be attributable to this November having one less business day than the comparable period, November 2002.
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 | |
| November 2003 | -3.6% | -11.0% | -4.6% |
| October 2003 | -3.9% | -1.9% | -3.7% |
| YTD 2003 | -4.9% | -1.8% | -4.5% |
| Monthly Percent Change vs Previous Month | |||
| US | Canada | Total | |
| November 2003 | -14.3% | -8.6% | 13.7% |
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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