Auto insurance premiums rising

It’s a new year, so it must be time for new auto insurance premiums. And in most cases, that means higher premiums.

Northbrook-based Allstate Corp. is increasing rates by between 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent beginning Jan. 16, chicagobusiness.com reports. Allstate’s cheaper online alternative, Esurance, will boost rates by about 3.2 percent beginning Jan. 29.

Geico and American Family are raising premiums too.

Chicagobusiness.com says the exception is Progressive Corp., which is reducing rates by about 1 percent.

And State Farm isn’t making any rate changes this time around. It had raised auto rates between 3 percent and 4 percent at the end of September.