finance
November 15, 2024
Inflation Up in October After Six-month Slowdown
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.6% year over year in October, up from 2.4% in September. Although the month’s reading followed six consecutive months of slowing rates, it met economists’ predictions. The inflation increase won’t likely disrupt the Federal Reserve (Fed) as expectations are for...
October 10, 2024
Commercial P&C Rates Up 3.8% in Q3, but Q4 Could See Hurricane Effects
The U.S. property and casualty insurance market saw rates rise an average of 3.8% for commercial lines and 6.75% for personal lines in the third quarter, according to the latest data from MarketScout. The average increases for Q3 are down from 4.36% for commercial lines and 7.6% for personal lines in the second quarter. The...
September 10, 2024
Pay-or-Play Affordability Percentage Will Increase for 2025
On Sept. 6, 2024, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2024-35 to index the contribution percentage in 2025 for determining the affordability of an employer’s plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For plan years beginning in 2025, employer-sponsored coverage will be considered affordable under the ACA’s “pay-or-play” rules if the employee’s required contribution for self-only...
August 21, 2024
5 Risks of Hiring an Uninsured Contractor
Project owners or general contractors must carefully vet contractors to ensure jobsite safety and financial security. A critical factor in this selection process is verifying that contractors carry adequate insurance. Hiring uninsured contractors can expose a project to significant risks, including safety hazards, liability issues and potential financial losses. The following are five risks associated...
July 30, 2024
Report: Employers Plan to Raise Wages 3.9% in 2025
The latest Salary Budget Planning Report released by Willis Towers Watson (WTW) shows that salary budget increases are expected to rise by 3.9% in 2025. The overall median pay raise for 2024 dropped to 4.1%, compared with 4.5% in 2023. Although these expected wage increases have diminished since 2023, this figure remains high compared to...
July 16, 2024
Inflation Cooled Further in June
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 3% year over year in June, declining from 3.3% in May. This is the first time since May 2020 that the monthly rate has shown a decrease. The “core” CPI, which strips out the unpredictable food and energy components, increased 0.1%...
January 12, 2024
Driving Down Health Cost Spend in 2024
As business leaders begin budgeting and strategizing for 2024, many are faced with balancing two items when it comes to benefits: ensuring low costs and prioritizing employees’ requests to offer better health benefits. With benefits slated as the second largest people expense for businesses, next to payroll, and health care costs across the nation estimated...
June 14, 2023
May Inflation Drops to 4% Year-over-Year Increase, Signaling Inflation May Be Cooling
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 4% year over year in May, a significant decline from 4.9% in April. This is the lowest annual pace since 2021 and slightly below economists’ expectations of a 4.1% increase, according to Refinitiv, global provider of financial market data and...