III Unveils Earlybird Forecast for 2004

Each year the Insurance Information Institute invites a panel of Wall Street stock analysts and industry professionals to review the prospects for the industry in the current and coming year. The survey reveals that the industry‘s unrelenting streak of bad luck finally came to an end in 2003 and that another solid year is in store for 2004. Premium growth, while decelerating, will remain relatively strong. However, the survey also reveals a curious split in the analyst community over the pace of growth in the industry in 2004, with some analysts forecasting a much sharper deceleration in growth than others. Another bright spot for insurers is the recovery in the investment environment. Taken together, insurers could experience a rare "Goldilocks" market in 2004—a brief period of time when everything is just right.