Two giant sellers of insurance to consumers— Allstate and Prudential Financial—reported second-quarter results that reflected the far-ranging impact of Covid-19. Allstate’s profit surged from fewer vehicle accidents on the road while ultralow interest rates weighed on Prudential.

The two insurers’ results show the first full quarter of the coronavirus’s unprecedented toll on the US economy. Across all US life and property-casualty insurers, analysts and investors’ focus has been on the costs that insurers are bearing — and the unexpected benefits some have enjoyed – as business activity slowed under government shutdown directives.