The majority of small firms say they are being hit with huge increases in business and motor insurance premiums, but these hikes are not being captured by official statistics. Lobby group ISME said a survey it has compiled shows that 85pc of firms have experienced a rise in employers' liability insurance. Instead, insurers are hiking business insurance and commercial motor premiums as these rate changes are not reported by the State statisticians. In its latest quarterly business trends survey, ISME - headed by ISME CEO Neil McDonnell - found that 81pc of member firms have been hit with a rise in business insurance, such as employer liability and public liability cover. Its research has found that very few other countries are compiling statistics on business insurance and it is a difficult area to measure, said CSO director of business statistics Joe Treacy.

Source: Irish Independent February 21, 2019 02:26 UTC