Search Results for agency_names:"Federal Trade Commission"

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a final rule called the Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees. This rule aims to prevent businesses from misleading consumers about the prices of live-event tickets and short-term lodging. It requires businesses to clearly disclose the total price that includes all mandatory fees, to avoid bait-and-switch tactics that hide the real cost. The rule also prohibits businesses from lying about the nature, purpose, amount, or refundability of these fees, ensuring that consumers have a true understanding of the cost before making a purchase.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is asking for public comments about proposed information requests aimed at large Single-Family Rental (SFR) owner operators, known as mega investors, who own over 1,000 rental properties. These requests are intended to help the FTC study the impact of such large investors on housing competition, prices, and their influence on local markets. The FTC plans to gather data about these companies' business models, property holdings, and pricing strategies, with the goal of increasing market transparency and possibly informing future regulatory actions. Public comments will be considered before the FTC requests approval from the Office of Management and Budget to proceed with this data collection.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced new adjustments to civil penalty amounts within its jurisdiction to account for inflation as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015. These changes, effective from January 13, 2021, affect various penalty amounts, including those related to premerger filing notifications, unfair or deceptive acts, and labeling violations. The adjustments are based on a cost-of-living adjustment formula that compares the Consumer Price Index from two preceding Octobers. This ensures penalties are updated annually to maintain their deterrent effect and to reflect economic changes.

Chevron Corporation and Hess Corporation have requested the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to review and nullify a previous order from January 17, 2025. This order stopped Chevron's efforts to appoint Hess CEO John B. Hess to Chevron's board following their merger, which was seen as potentially harming competition by increasing industry coordination. Chevron and Hess argue that the order lacks a valid antitrust basis, claiming that Mr. Hess's role would not significantly affect competition or oil prices, and that removing the order would be in the public interest to enhance U.S. energy production. The FTC is inviting the public to comment on this petition until May 12, 2025.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received a petition from the Central Office of Reform and Efficiency, which seeks to clarify vague terms in the negative option plan regulations for better enforcement. The petition is accessible online, and the FTC is inviting public comments on it until February 20, 2025. Interested individuals can submit their comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, ensuring no sensitive information is included. The FTC will consider these comments before deciding whether to proceed with rulemaking based on the petition.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that it received a petition for rulemaking from the American Apparel & Footwear Association. The petition requests changes to allow digital labeling of apparel, pursuant to the authority under the Wool Act and Fiber Act. The FTC has published the petition online and is inviting public comments until April 18, 2025. The comments will help the FTC decide whether to take further action on the petition.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted a proposed consent agreement to address anticompetitive practices by Guardian Service Industries, Inc. The company was found to have used "No-Hire Agreements" that prevented other businesses from hiring its employees, which the FTC claims are unfair methods of competition under federal law. The proposed consent order will make these agreements void and includes measures to inform affected parties. Some FTC commissioners have expressed dissent, arguing that there was insufficient evidence of antitrust violations. The public can submit comments on this proposed agreement until January 6, 2025.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking public feedback on its proposal to extend the clearance for collecting information related to its administrative activities for another three years, as per the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This involves responding to applications under the Commission's rules, managing consumer reporting systems, and evaluating the FTC's programs. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments by March 12, 2021, and encouraged to do so online to avoid mail delays. The FTC ensures that no sensitive personal or confidential information is submitted in the comments, as all comments will become part of the public record.