Exhibit 99

NEWS
RELEASE

The Progressive Corporation	Company Contact:
6300 Wilson Mills Road	Thomas A. King
Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143	(440)395-2260
http://www.progressive.com

The Company is scheduled to hold a one-hour conference call to address questions on Tuesday, August 9, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. eastern time, subsequent to the posting of the Company’s Shareholders Report online and the filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC. Registration for the teleconference or webcast is scheduled to be available on the Company’s Web site at http://investors.progressive.com/events.asp on or after July 21, 2005.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO — July 14, 2005 — The Progressive Corporation today reported the following results for June and the second quarter 2005:

	Month									Quarter
(millions, except per share amounts and ratios)	2005			2004			Change			2005			2004			Change
Net premiums written	$	1,092.8		$	991.5			10	%	$	3,594.1		$	3,361.6				7	%
Net premiums earned		1,069.6			1,005.4			6	%		3,453.8			3,234.0				7	%
Net income		120.6			120.2			—	%		394.3			386.3				2	%
Per share		.61			.55			11	%		1.97			1.76				12	%
Pre-tax net realized gains (losses)		(.7	)		(3.1	)		(77	)%		(3.8	)		(3.4	)			12	%
Combined ratio		87.3			86.0		(1.3) pts.				86.1			85.4			(.7) pts.
Diluted equivalent shares		199.4			219.7			(9	)%		200.0			219.8				(9	)%

See the “Income Statements” for further month and year-to-date information.

     The Company offers insurance to personal and commercial auto drivers throughout the United States. The Company’s Personal Lines business units write insurance for private passenger automobiles and recreation vehicles. The Company’s Commercial Auto business unit writes primary liability, physical damage and other auto-related insurance for automobiles and trucks owned by small businesses. See “Supplemental Information” for month and year-to-date results.

- 1 -

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INCOME STATEMENT
June 2005
(millions – except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

	Current
	Month			Comments on Monthly Results1
Direct premiums written	$	1,116.4
Net premiums written	$	1,092.8
Revenues:
Net premiums earned	$	1,069.6
Investment income		47.9
Net realized gains (losses) on securities		(.7	)
Service revenues		3.1
Total revenues		1,119.9
Expenses:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses		716.5
Policy acquisition costs		113.1
Other underwriting expenses		104.2
Investment expenses		1.0
Service expenses		1.9
Interest expense		6.9
Total expenses		943.6
Income before income taxes		176.3
Provision for income taxes		55.7
Net income	$	120.6
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic:
Average shares outstanding		196.5
Per share	$	.61
Diluted:
Average shares outstanding		196.5
Net effect of dilutive stock-based compensation		2.9
Total equivalent shares		199.4
Per share	$	.61

¹   See the Monthly Commentary at the end of this release for additional discussion. For a description of the Company’s reporting and accounting policies, see Note 1 to the Company’s 2004 audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2004 Shareholders Report, which can be found at progressive.com/annualreport.

The following table sets forth the investment results for the month:

Fully taxable equivalent total return:
Fixed-income securities	.5	%
Common stocks	.5	%
Total portfolio	.5	%
Pretax recurring investment book yield	4.3	%

- 2 -

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INCOME STATEMENTS
June 2005 Year-to-Date
(millions – except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

	Year-to-Date				%
	2005		2004		Change
Direct premiums written	$	7,356.6	$	6,808.6		8
Net premiums written	$	7,198.9	$	6,638.9		8
Revenues:
Net premiums earned	$	6,803.8	$	6,327.5		8
Investment income		250.2		239.6		4
Net realized gains (losses) on securities		6.4		56.1		(89	)
Service revenues		21.5		24.5		(12	)
Total revenues		7,081.9		6,647.7		7
Expenses:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses		4,433.2		4,052.8		9
Policy acquisition costs		722.3		682.3		6
Other underwriting expenses		665.6		600.4		11
Investment expenses		5.9		6.2		(5	)
Service expenses		12.0		12.1		(1	)
Interest expense		41.5		40.2		3
Total expenses		5,880.5		5,394.0		9
Income before income taxes		1,201.4		1,253.7		(4	)
Provision for income taxes		394.4		407.4		(3	)
Net income	$	807.0	$	846.3		(5	)
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic:
Average shares outstanding		198.1		216.4		(8	)
Per share	$	4.07	$	3.91		4
Diluted:
Average shares outstanding		198.1		216.4		(8	)
Net effect of dilutive stock-based compensation		2.9		3.5		(17	)
Total equivalent shares		201.0		219.9		(9	)
Per share	$	4.02	$	3.85		4

The following table sets forth the investment results for the year-to-date period:

	2005			2004
Fully taxable equivalent total return:
Fixed-income securities		2.2	%		.8	%
Common stocks		.4	%		3.2	%
Total portfolio		1.9	%		1.2	%
Pretax recurring investment book yield		3.9	%		3.9	%

- 3 -

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
June 2005
($ in millions)
(unaudited)

Current Month

										Commercial
	Personal Lines									Auto			Other		Companywide
	Agency			Direct			Total			Business			Businesses1		Total
Net Premiums Written	$	627.9		$	313.6		$	941.5		$	148.9		$	2.4	$	1,092.8
% Growth in NPW		6	%		15	%		8	%		23	%	NM			10	%
Net Premiums Earned	$	621.9		$	316.4		$	938.3		$	129.3		$	2.0	$	1,069.6
% Growth in NPE		3	%		12	%		6	%		11	%	NM			6	%
GAAP Ratios
Loss/LAE ratio		67.8			67.7			67.8			61.8		NM			67.0
Expense ratio		20.3			20.1			20.2			20.9		NM			20.3
Combined ratio		88.1			87.8			88.0			82.7		NM			87.3
Actuarial Adjustments2
Reserve Decrease/(Increase)
Prior accident years															$	14.9
Current accident year																7.5
Calendar year actuarial adjustment	$	12.2		$	4.2		$	16.4		$	5.8		$	.2	$	22.4
Prior Accident Years Development
Favorable/(Unfavorable)
Actuarial adjustment															$	14.9
All other development																23.0
Total development															$	37.9
Calendar year loss/LAE ratio																67.0
Accident year loss/LAE ratio																70.5
Statutory Ratios
Loss/LAE ratio																67.0
Expense ratio																19.7
Combined ratio																86.7

NM = Not Meaningful

1	Amounts primarily include professional liability insurance for community banks and the Company’s run-off businesses. The other businesses generated an underwriting profit of $.7 million for the month.
2	Represents adjustments solely based on the Company’s corporate actuarial review.

- 4 -

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
June 2005 Year-to-Date
($ in millions)
(unaudited)

Year-to-Date

										Commercial
	Personal Lines									Auto			Other		Companywide
	Agency			Direct			Total			Business			Businesses1		Total
Net Premiums Written	$	4,148.1		$	2,119.0		$	6,267.1		$	920.3		$	11.5	$	7,198.9
% Growth in NPW		5	%		14	%		7	%		16	%	NM			8	%
Net Premiums Earned	$	3,991.3		$	1,991.7		$	5,983.0		$	807.2		$	13.6	$	6,803.8
% Growth in NPE		5	%		12	%		7	%		13	%	NM			8	%
GAAP Ratios
Loss/LAE ratio		65.5			66.6			65.8			60.5		NM			65.2
Expense ratio		20.7			20.0			20.5			20.2		NM			20.4
Combined ratio		86.2			86.6			86.3			80.7		NM			85.6
Actuarial Adjustments2
Reserve Decrease/(Increase)
Prior accident years															$	69.0
Current accident year																11.0
Calendar year actuarial adjustment	$	45.9		$	18.8		$	64.7		$	13.5		$	1.8	$	80.0
Prior Accident Years Development
Favorable/(Unfavorable)
Actuarial adjustment															$	69.0
All other development																133.5
Total development															$	202.5
Calendar year loss/LAE ratio																65.2
Accident year loss/LAE ratio																68.2
Statutory Ratios
Loss/LAE ratio																65.2
Expense ratio																19.4
Combined ratio																84.6
Statutory surplus															$	5,449.7

	June		June
Policies in Force	2005		2004		Change
(in thousands)
Agency – Auto		4,492		4,187		7	%
Direct – Auto		2,271		1,996		14	%
Other Personal Lines3		2,612		2,252		16	%
Total Personal Lines		9,375		8,435		11	%
Commercial Auto Business		455		404		13	%

NM = Not Meaningful

1	The other businesses generated an underwriting profit of $8.4 million.
2	Represents adjustments solely based on the Company’s corporate actuarial review.
3	Includes insurance for motorcycles, recreation vehicles, mobile homes, watercraft, snowmobiles and similar items.

- 5 -

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
BALANCE SHEET AND OTHER INFORMATION
(millions– except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

	June
	2005
CONDENSED GAAP BALANCE SHEET:1
Investments — Available-for-sale, at market:
Fixed maturities (amortized cost: $8,566.6)	$	8,638.0
Equity securities:
Preferred stocks (cost: $1,146.7)		1,153.5
Common equities (cost: $1,402.2)		1,936.5
Short-term investments (amortized cost: $2,266.0)		2,266.7
Total investments2		13,994.7
Net premiums receivable		2,522.4
Deferred acquisition costs		468.7
Other assets		1,473.4
Total assets	$	18,459.2
Unearned premiums	$	4,503.8
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves		5,490.5
Other liabilities2		1,589.8
Debt		1,284.6
Shareholders’ equity		5,590.5
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	18,459.2
Common Shares outstanding		197.7
Shares repurchased – June		.7
Average cost per share	$	98.72
Book value per share	$	28.28
Trailing 12-month return on average shareholders’ equity		29.6	%
Net unrealized pre-tax gains on investments	$	613.2
Increase (decrease) from May 2005	$	10.9
Increase (decrease) from December 2004	$	(56.2	)
Debt to total capital ratio		18.7	%
Fixed-income portfolio duration	2.4 years
Weighted average credit quality	AA

1	Pursuant to SFAS 113, “Accounting and Reporting for Reinsurance of Short-Duration and Long-Duration Contracts,” loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are stated gross of reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses of $338.0 million.
2	Amounts include net unsettled security acquisitions of $111.0 million.

- 6 -

Monthly Commentary

• As discussed last month, certain months in 2005 may not be directly comparable to the corresponding 2004 months due to the Company’s use of a fiscal calendar. For June, the written premium growth reflects the fact that the Memorial Day holiday fell in fiscal May 2005, as compared to fiscal June 2004. Net premiums earned and policies in force may be a more representative measure this month.

• Based on activity to date, the Company believes that the losses incurred as a result of Hurricane Dennis will not have a material effect on July’s results.

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation for auto insurance based on premiums written and provides drivers with competitive rates and 24/7, in-person and online service. The companies that offer insurance directly (by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE and online at progressivedirect.com) market their products and services under the Progressive Direct^SM brand, while the companies that offer insurance through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies market their products and services under the Drive^SM Insurance from Progressive brand. The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, are publicly traded at NYSE:PGR. More information can be found at progressive.com, including a guide to interpreting the monthly reporting package.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this release that are not historical fact are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those discussed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, uncertainties related to estimates, assumptions and projections generally; inflation and changes in economic conditions (including changes in interest rates and financial markets); the accuracy and adequacy of the Company’s pricing and loss reserving methodologies; pricing competition and other initiatives by competitors; the Company’s ability to obtain regulatory approval for requested rate changes and the timing thereof; the effectiveness of the Company’s advertising campaigns; legislative and regulatory developments; disputes relating to intellectual property rights; the outcome of litigation pending or that may be filed against the Company; weather conditions (including the severity and frequency of storms, hurricanes, snowfalls, hail and winter conditions); changes in driving patterns and loss trends; acts of war and terrorist activities; the Company’s ability to maintain the uninterrupted operation of its facilities, systems (including information technology systems) and business functions; court decisions and trends in litigation and health care and auto repair costs; and other matters described from time to time by the Company in releases and publications, and in periodic reports and other documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, investors should be aware that generally accepted accounting principles prescribe when a company may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when a reserve is established for one or more contingencies. Reported results, therefore, may appear to be volatile in certain accounting periods.

- 7 -