NBC 17.com (Enlarge photo)

28/06/2008 02:57. RALEIGH, N.C. — Insurance officials will begin discussions next week about whether to raise the state's auto insurance rates.

The auto insurance industry, represented by the North Carolina Rate Bureau, asked for a 13 percent average statewide increase in a filing to the Department last February.

The NC Department of Insurance will argue that the market for auto insurance has not changed significantly since last year, when companies did not seek a rate change and instead agreed to keep rates the same.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, who by law must remain unbiased and... // NBC 17.com