Total U.S. annuity sales reached $61.4 billion in second quarter, improving eight percent from prior year. In the first six months of 2014, total U.S. annuity sales increased 10 percent, compared with 2013.
"This is only the second time we have seen quarterly sales over $60 billion since the third quarter of 2011," said Todd Giesing senior analyst, LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute Annuity Research. "Despite declining interest rates during the first six months of this year, fixed annuity sales continue to drive overall annuity sales growth."
Total fixed annuity sales were $25.2 billion in the second quarter, up 34 percent versus prior year. Year-to-date (YTD), fixed annuity sales equaled $49.1 billion, a 39 percent increase from 2013.
Sales of fixed rate deferred annuities (Book Value and MVA) grew 30 percent in the second quarter, compared with prior year. Fixed-rate deferred annuities reached $15.8 billion in the first half of the year, a 42 percent increase compared to last year.
Index annuity sales grew 40 percent in the second quarter, setting a new quarterly record of $13 billion. This is the first time that quarterly index annuity sales have accounted for more than 50 percent of total fixed annuity sales, with second quarter sales accounting for 52 percent of total fixed sales. YTD, indexed annuity sales grew 41 percent, totaling $24.3 billion.
"With a record quarter of index annuity sales driven by product innovation and expansion of distribution, combined with nothing to indicate that sales will significantly drop in the near future, sales may be pushing $50 billion for 2014," noted Giesing.
