Sales of U.S. fixed annuities were 12% lower in the third quarter than they were in the third quarter of 2009, according to Beacon Research Publications Inc.

Beacon, Evanston, Ill., says fixed annuity sales fell to $19.5 billion in the latest quarterFixed annuity sales.

But third-quarter indexed annuity sales climbed 17%, to $8.6 billion, and indexed annuity sales accounted for 44% of all fixed annuity sales, Beacon says.

Estimated third-quarter sales totals for other types of fixed annuities are:

- Book value: $6.9 billion.

- Fixed income: $2.3 billion.

- Market value-adjusted: $1.8 billion.

- Warren S. Hersch