State Farm lowers rates

State Farm Fire and Casualty Company has announced an average rate decrease of 1.8 percent for Missouri homeowners. The new rates took effect June 1 for renewals of current policies and April 1 for new customers, according to a news release from the company.

State Farm is eliminating one of the rating factors used to calculate the cost of homeowners and other types of property insurance public protection class, which refers to an area's fire protection. The company is introducing a new factor, "subzone rating."