N.H. APPROVES COMP RATES:

The New Hampshire Insurance Department has approved a voluntary loss cost change with an average increase of 2.5 percent beginning Jan. 1, 2005. The increase is in line with that requested in a filing on behalf of workers’ compensation insurers in the state by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. For the residual market, state officials agreed to a loss cost multiplier change from 1.525 to 1.621, also effective Jan. 1.