Despite a strong showing by variable products, annuity sales in banks fell 16% between November 2004 and November 2005.
Volume dropped to $3 billion, from $3.6 billion, according to Kenneth Kehrer Associates, Princeton, N.J.
Sales of fixed annuities fell 42%, to $1.2 billion, while sales of variable annuities climbed 27%, to $1.8 billion.