Allstate Says October Disasters Cost $1 Billion Led by Sandy

Allstate Corp., the largest publicly traded U.S. auto and home insurer, said catastrophes cost $1.08 billion before taxes in October as superstorm Sandy lashed states including New York and New Jersey. The projection is net of reinsurance, Northbrook, Illinois-based Allstate said today in a statement. Autos represented about 40 percent of the $1.28 billion gross loss. New York accounted for 66 percent of the claims, followed by New Jersey at 20 percent. The insurer had made about $340 million in payments as of November 26, according to the statement.