The Hartford reported first-quarter 2023 net income of $535 million, nearly a 21 percent increase over $443 million a year ago.

In the company’s property/casualty segments, results were carried by net income of $421 million in commercial lines — offsetting a loss of $1 million in personal lines during the first three months. A year ago, Q1 net income in commercial was $383 million and $77 million in personal.

The Hartford’s group benefits contributed to positive results by reversing a Q1 2022 loss of $8 million with a $92 million profit in Q1 2023.

The insurer’s commercial and personal P/C businesses turned in combined ratios of 92.7 and 106.1, respectively, for the quarter. Personal lines recorded a Q1 underwriting loss of $45 million compared to a gain of $69 million a year ago.

The Hartford said increases in severity in personal auto liability and physical damage caused about a 10.3-point uptick in its underlying loss and loss-adjustment expense ratio. Pre-tax unfavorable prior-year development in personal lines during Q1 was caused by increased auto physical-damage claims.

“In personal lines auto, we achieved average approved rate filings of 18.3 percent and written pricing increases of 10 percent. In a dynamic environment, we continue to respond with rate filings to address inflationary pressure,” said Beth Costello, chief financial officer, in a statement.

Personal lines were also hit by $47 million in January-March catastrophes from tornado, wind and hail events, and winter storms, compared to $17 million in catastrophe losses in Q1 2022.

CEO Christopher Swift said, “Renewal written pricing in standard commercial lines, excluding workers compensation, rose to 8.1 percent, above loss cost trends.”

Written premiums in commercial lines increased 11 percent in Q1 to about $3.1 billion. The combined ratio for the segment was 92.7, an increase of 2.4 points from last year, driven by catastrophe losses $131 million compared to $81 million in Q1 2022.