A new survey into commercial lines insurance pricing in the US indicates the market is showing some signs of an upswing.

Professional services firm Towers Watson says its survey has found that although commercial pricing was relatively flat for the ninth consecutive quarter, workers’ compensation rates increased, as did rates for some standard commercial lines.

“The increases in workers’ compensation prices this quarter are larger than we’ve seen in quite some time, and package [commercial multi-peril and business owner policies] and general liability are also showing upticks,” Towers Watson director Bruce Fell said.

“While the overall story is still one of flat prices, the observed movements, coupled with recent weather-related insurance losses that are expected to firm property prices, could mean more significant increases in the second quarter of 2011.”

The survey compared prices between the first quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011, and found price reductions continued for commercial property and management liability lines.