The increases average about 5 percent and are based on distance traveled.

Such increases average only about 1 percent of pay.

The net increase in annual premiums, it said, would average $110 a policy or $55 for each person covered.

Annual increases in suit prices have averaged 20 percent for at least four years, he said.

An increase last year averaged 5.5 percent, he said.

In the first four months that year, the index posted increases averaging just over 2 percent.

Perhaps surprisingly, the increase in Manhattan above 96th Street would average $147, or 24 percent, a month.

In the same period, its fee-for-service increases averaged 17 percent a year.

That follows increases averaging 15.3 percent in 2002, Hewitt said.

Homeowners pay an annual average of $2,600 in school taxes, and last year the residents approved an increase averaging about $36 a household.