The 60+ market for individually underwritten U.S. life insurance continued to roll, fueling an overall increase in life application activity of 2.2% for October when compared to the same period last year.

That 2.2% increase marked a strong showing for life activity among all ages combined, according to the MIB Life Index, a monthly report on life insurance activity.

Increases were evident in the 45-59 (up 4.7%) group and the 60+ age group, which rose 17.7%. The latter group has seen increases in eight of the last 10 months. Meanwhile, the increase in the middle-market of 45-59 year olds has been evident the last two months.

On the darker side, the 0-44 age group posted a 2% decrease in application activity, and year-to-date, life applications are down 0.9%, according to the report.