Not only was 2013 a better year for disaster-related insurance losses in the U.S. than 2012, it was also below the 10-year average and the best year since 2009, according to a report from Aon Benfield, a European reinsurance company. The report found $45 billion in insured losses in 2013, much less than the $72 billion in 2012 and less than the $58 billion for an average year in the last decade.
Globally, the report found that insured losses were 22% below the 10-year average with most of the worst events occurring outside the U.S. Central European flooding proved to be the costliest single event in 2013.
The report notes that a Category 3 or stronger hurricane has not made landfall in the U.S. in eight years, which is the longest recorded streak. It also notes that 2013 was the fourth-warmest year on record for the world as a whole.
