Growth in net earned premiums during the first three months of 2025 was offset by losses and expenses, resulting in a $1.1 billion net underwriting loss of the U.S. P/C industry.

According to industry rating agency AM Best, the January wildfires in California were to blame for the increase in losses for personal and commercial insurance lines in the first quarter.

Losses incurred during Q1 were about $147.1 billion, up about 17 percent from the same period a year ago. Losses and loss adjustment expenses (LAE) were up 15.8 percent to about $167.5 billion, which significantly offset a 7.8 percent increase in net premiums earned to $226.3 billion, said AM Best in a first look at industry financial results.

Q1 net investment income of $20.5 billion was up just 2.4% from Q1 2024.

Net income dropped more than 50 percent to about $19.8 billion during Q1 2025.

The industry’s combined ratio worsened to 99.4 from 94.4 during Q1 2024. Excluding $9.6 billion of favorable reserve development during Q1, the combined ratio was 103.6.

AM Best said the first quarter analysis was based on company reports received by May 29. These insurers represent about 96 percent of both the industry’s total net premiums written and industry surplus, which increased 6.9 percent to about $1.1 billion.

This article was originally published by Insurance Journal. Reporter Chad Hemenway is the National Editor of Insurance Journal.