US property insurance markets recorded a continued contraction in claim volumes during the first quarter of 2026, extending a multi-quarter downward trajectory. According to a report by Verisk, total property claim volume fell by 8.9% compared to the same period in the previous year. This decline marks the fifth consecutive quarterly drop, a trend that has been in place since the first quarter of 2025.
The aggregate claim volume for the quarter stood 13.13% below the five-year average. This substantial deviation from the historical norm persisted despite the presence of significant winter storm activity throughout the region during the reporting period, suggesting that the reduction in claims is a structural shift rather than a temporary anomaly driven solely by mild weather.
Regional Variance and Driver Analysis
Geographic distribution of claim volume revealed distinct regional patterns driven by varying weather exposures. Texas recorded the highest total claim volume in the quarter, followed by Ohio and California. Collectively, these three states accounted for nearly 25% of all claims nationwide. The drivers for claims in Texas and California originated from multiple weather events, whereas the claim surge in Ohio was primarily attributed to a single wind event.
Conversely, several western and northern states experienced sharp increases in claim frequency. Alaska, Arizona, and Montana saw year-over-year increases of 121%, 78%, and 49%, respectively, indicating volatile regional weather impacts in these areas.
Southeast Declines and Historical Comparisons
The Southeastern United States experienced the most dramatic declines in claim volume. Florida recorded the steepest drop, with claims decreasing by 65.7%. Consequently, Florida fell from 21st place to 34th place in the national claim volume rankings. This significant reduction was largely a function of baseline comparison; the first quarter of 2025 had absorbed a high volume of late-reported claims related to Hurricane Milton, which struck in the fourth quarter of 2024. The removal of this tail risk from the comparative baseline created a steep year-over-year decline.
Other southeastern states also posted substantial declines. South Carolina saw a decrease of 51.83%, while Georgia and North Carolina recorded drops of 39.73% and 39.44%, respectively. These figures reflect the resolution of prior hurricane-related liabilities rather than an absence of new weather events.
Catastrophe Breakdown and Cost Inflation
When segmented by loss type, catastrophe claims fell by 9.58% year-over-year, while non-catastrophe claims declined by 8.56%. Catastrophe-related losses represented 33% of the total claim pool.
Despite the volume contraction, the financial cost of repairs continued to rise. Total reconstruction costs increased by 3.4% year-over-year in the US. This inflationary pressure was heavily influenced by input costs, particularly energy. Fuel costs surged by 42.70% in the US during the quarter. In Canada, reconstruction costs rose by 2.5%, with fuel costs increasing by 39.69% over the same period.