The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a consumer protection investigation into Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited over concerns that customers may not have been given clear information about changes to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions before renewal. The CMA will examine whether Microsoft's communications about the introduction of Copilot and other artificial intelligence features and the associated price increases, gave customers sufficient information about the subscription options available and the differences in cost before they renewed their subscriptions. The CMA states that, from January 2025, existing Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers received access to the new features at no extra cost for the remainder of their subscription period. On renewal, customers were automatically moved to higher-priced plans unless they selected another plan or cancelled their subscription. Existing customers could also switch to a time-limited 'Classic' plan, which retained the previous features at the original price. The CMA has not reached any conclusions on whether Microsoft has breached consumer protection law and will now gather and assess further evidence.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched consumer protection investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School over concerns that mandatory fees were not displayed in upfront prices, constituting drip pricing under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA 2024). The reasons for investigation are as follows: (1) Trainline is under scrutiny over mandatory booking fees of £0.59–£2.79 for train travel and £1.50 for coach bookings; (2) Virgin Atlantic over mandatory resort fees and local taxes on package holidays and (3) RED Driving School over mandatory booking and digital fees of over £7 per booking. All three firms had previously received CMA advisory letters under the CMA's initial consumer protection drive. The CMA has reached no conclusions on whether the law has been broken. If infringements are established, the CMA may impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover and order consumer compensation.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster to assess the ticket sale company’s compliance with consumer protection law in relation to the sale of Oasis concert tickets. In particular, the CMA is investigating whether Ticketmaster breached the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, SI 2008/1277, was transparent with customers about ‘dynamic pricing’ (pricing changing due to ticket demands) and put customers under pressure to buy tickets in a short period of time at a higher price than they anticipated, which could have impacted their purchasing decisions. The CMA is seeking responses to its investigation until 19 September 2024. The CMA has also published a letter to the government highlighting the requirement for more protections for consumers purchasing tickets on the secondary market.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a consultation on draft guidance to help unregulated businesses provide will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services in the UK to better understand their existing obligations under UK consumer protection law.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened investigations into eight companies under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) as part of a major enforcement drive tackling unfair online pricing practices such as drip pricing, default opt-ins and misleading time-limited offers. These are the first cases brought under the CMA’s new direct enforcement powers, enabling it to impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover and order compensation for affected consumers. The CMA has also published finalised price transparency guidance and issued advisory letters to 100 businesses across 14 sectors regarding their use of additional fees and online sales tactics.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a comprehensive market study into the design, planning, and delivery of road and railway infrastructure by the civil engineering sector in the UK. This study, which supports the government's growth mission and ten-year infrastructure strategy, will assess procurement processes, market barriers, and opportunities to enhance public-private collaboration. It focuses on a sector that contributed £23bn to the UK economy in 2023 and accounts for 70–75% of government economic infrastructure spending, while the National Infrastructure Commission estimates that public and private investment will need to increase by 30–50% over the next decade.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has begun implementing new consumer protection powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA 2024), effective from 6 April 2025. The regime enables the CMA to directly determine consumer law breaches without court action and impose fines up to 10% of a company's global turnover. Initial enforcement will target aggressive sales practices, hidden fees and fake reviews, with the CMA publishing guidance to help businesses comply. The first 12 months will see lower penalties while focusing on egregious breaches and supporting business adaptation to the new requirements.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced a new growth-focused programme from its Microeconomics Unit to support the UK government's growth mission and Industrial Strategy. Launched alongside its third State of Competition report, the programme aims to address barriers to growth, competition dynamics, and the spread of new technology in the UK economy. This initiative comes amid concerns over declining business dynamism and weakened competition levels, highlighting the need for effective competition policy to foster investment and innovation.

On 13 November 2024, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) initiated a project to examine the use of dynamic pricing across various economic sectors. This endeavour, previously announced in correspondence with the Business and Culture Secretaries, aims to gather insights from businesses, particularly in travel and leisure, as well as consumer groups and other regulators. The project will assess different dynamic pricing scenarios, evaluate commercial and consumer benefits, and explore potential challenges to consumers and competition. While not a formal investigation or market study, this initiative will inform governmental considerations on dynamic pricing, including its relevance to the forthcoming call for evidence on price transparency in the live events sector. The CMA emphasises that this project is distinct from its ongoing investigation into Ticketmaster's sale of Oasis concert tickets.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a formal review of Part 3, Article 29, and Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the Home Credit Market Investigation Order 2007. The purpose of this review is to determine whether, as a result of any change in circumstance, the parts of the Order are no longer appropriate and need to be varied, superseded or released. Responses are sought by 22 March 2024. The CMA expects to publish and consult on a provisional decision in spring 2024 and publish a final decision in spring or summer 2024.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a letter from, Chief Executive, Sarah Cardell to the Chancellor setting out the steps it is taking to monitor pricing pressures following rising commodity prices linked to the situation in the Middle East. The CMA emphasised that effective competition is important in limiting price increases and confirmed that it will take enforcement action where there is evidence of breaches of competition or consumer protection law. In relation to heating oil, the CMA said it is seeking information from several suppliers and intermediaries following consumer complaints, focusing on reports of cancelled orders being reissued at higher prices and price increases applied to automated delivery arrangements triggered by tank-level monitoring systems. It noted that the review is at an early stage and that no conclusions have been reached but stated that it will take action if consumer protection breaches are identified. It is also examining broader pricing developments in the heating oil market and may advise government on whether additional regulation is required, noting that households reliant on heating oil do not currently have the same regulatory protections as on-grid gas consumers.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its heating oil market study, recommending that the UK and devolved governments introduce a new proportionate regulatory regime for heating oil suppliers serving approximately 1.5 million households. The CMA found that retail prices peaked at 92% above February 2026 levels in April 2026, with wholesale cost increases accounting for 83% of the March 2026 retail price rise. Recommended measures include mandatory supplier registration, minimum standards for price quotation and cancellation handling, access to independent dispute resolution and a register for vulnerable households. The CMA has identified approximately 1,700 customers affected by possible contract breaches following order cancellations while some suppliers have agreed to compensate affected customers, the CMA is preparing court-based enforcement action against those that fail to do so voluntarily. The CMA has also separately written to liquefied petroleum gas suppliers reminding them of their obligations under consumer protection law, with no finding of infringement made at this stage.