Variable Annuity Sales Decline for Sixth Quarter

Variable annuity sales in the U.S. declined for a sixth straight quarter as life insurers increased prices on the equity-linked retirement products and bailed-out companies scaled back... Sales slipped 16 percent to $31.7 billion in the three months ended Sept. 30 from $37.8 billion in the year-earlier period, trade group LIMRA International said in data posted on its Web site. Prudential Financial Inc., the second-biggest U.S. life insurer, was the top seller in the period after trailing larger rival MetLife Inc. in the first half of the year... Bloomberg: Variable Annuity Sales Decline for Sixth Quarter