In tune with the fading home shopping season, both mortgage insurance applications and primary insurance in force decreased for the six member firms of the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America, a trade association representing the private mortgage insurance industry. According to the trade group’s monthly statistical report, mortgage insurance applications totaled 38,705, down 2.9% from September, and insurance in force totaled $765.9 billion, down 0.8% from the month prior. Approximately $6.9 billion of the insurance in force in October is attributable to insurance written on newly originated loans. Despite the decrease, numbers remain substantially above the same period last year. Mortgage insurance applications increased 21.4% compared to October 2009. The amount of primary insurance in force also increased, up 31.5% compared to the same period last year. The ratio of mortgage loan cures to defaults remained level month-over-month in October with 46.9% of loans cured (56,887) and 53.1% of loans in default (64,450). The statistics in the September report were based on data from Genworth Mortgage Insurance Corp. (GNW), Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corp. (MTG), PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. (PMI), Radian Guaranty Inc. (RDN), Republic Mortgage Insurance Co. and United Guaranty Corp. Write to Christine Ricciardi. Disclosure: The author holds no relevant investments.