2008 cat losses estimated at $25.2 billion

Catastrophes cost U.S. property/casualty insurers about $25.2 billion in insured property losses last year, the Insurance Services Office Inc.’s Property Claim Services unit reported Tuesday. Jersey City, N.J.-based PCS said insurers paid 3.9 million claims for damage in 40 states from 2008’s 37 catastrophes. Hurricanes caused the greatest losses at $13.3 billion, with two additional tropical storms generating an additional $300 million in insured losses.