(WESTWOOD, MA. � January 13, 2004) Aggressive year-end sales efforts by North American life insurers buoyed 2003 year-end results with December application activity showing a 4.7% year-over-year increase according to the MIB Life IndexSM. December application activity in the U.S. and Canada increased 4.9% and 3.5% respectively compared to the same period last year. Year-end strength appreciably buffered overall North American fourth quarter results which declined only 1.3%; averting more problematic declines observed in the prior three quarters (Q3, -2.1%; Q2, -6.1%; Q1, -5.5%). Year-to-date (YTD) results depict a challenging year with U.S. application activity down 4.1% YTD and Canadian activity down 1.4% YTD compared to application activity last year.
Significantly, December’s growth was shared by all age groups. North American application activity in the 60+ age demographic was up 10.1% over last December, marking the year’s fourth largest increase in this enduringly strong demographic; U.S. up 9.7%, Canada up 14.4%. In the age 45-59 age demographic, North America was up 7.9% overall; U.S. up 8.3%, Canada up 4.4%. Notably, the 0-44 age group showed its first growth all year in both North America, up 2.6% and in the U.S., up 2.7%. Canada’s 1.8% year-over-year increase in this age group was the fifth in 2003.
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 | |
| December 2003 | 4.9% | 3.5% | 4.7% |
| November 2003 | -3.6% | -11.0% | -4.6% |
| Q4, 2003 | -1.1% | -3.6% | -1.3% |
| YTD 2003 | -4.1% | -1.4% | -3.8% |
| Monthly Percent Change vs Previous Month | |||
| US | Canada | Total | |
| December 2003 | 9.7% | -4.5% | 8.1% |
2003 MIB Life Index Annual Report
The life insurance industry’s earliest results and trends are available in MIB’s 2003 Life Index Annual Report. Visit www.mib.com/lifeindex2003 to order a copy. A multi-year discount is available packaging the 2001, 2002 & 2003 Life Index Annual Reports.
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
.
