Rising rates are driven by the increased cost of claims

This chart illustrates the rate increase in the auto body repair industry (Risk Classification 3412) over the last eight years:

• $.6070 in 1999.
• $.6447 in 2000.
• $.6356 in 2001.
• $.6633 in 2002.
• $.8939 in 2003.
• $1.0014 in 2004.
• $1.0216 in 2005.
• $1.1063 in 2006.

The average rate increase since 1999 is:

• 45.9 percent for all industries.
• 82.3 percent for the auto body repair industry.