U.S. application activity for individually underwritten life insurance was off -4.4% in March, year-over-year, all ages combined according to the MIB Life Index. Declining activity across the first three months of the year foreshadowed 2014's first quarter losses, off -5.4% as compared to Q1 2013. The MIB Life Index has marked declining life insurance application activity for the past twelve consecutive months. March activity was +3.9% higher than that of the previous February.  

U.S. life application activity by age group mirrored the composite Index, with ages 0-44, off -5.3%; ages 45-59, off -4.7%; and ages 60+ off -1.0%. March declines by age group were on par with those occurring in February 2014. For the first quarter 2014, ages 0-44 was off -6.3%; ages 45-59, off -6.0%; and ages 60+ off -1.7%. The long-term trend line shows ages 0-44 and 45-59 in negative territory for twelve consecutive months trailing. Ages 60+ shows mixed gains and losses during that time, with the absolute decline far less steep.

MIB CEO Lee Oliphant talks with A.M. Best on the 2013 year-in-review available from www.mibgroup.com/news. Review all the industry trends and register (free) for MIB's 2013 Life Index Annual Report at www.mibsolutions.com/regLI.