U.S. fixed annuity sales fell in 2010, but sales of indexed annuities and immediate annuities rose.
Total U.S. sales of fixed annuities fell to about $72 billion in 2010, down 31 from the 2009 total, according to Beacon Research Publications Inc., Evanston, Ill.
Sales of indexed annuities increased 6%, to about $31 billion, and sales of income annuities increased 2%, to $8 billion, Beacon says.
Sales of traditional fixed annuities were hurt by a difficult interest rate environment, Beacon says.