Market studies

The OFT actively investigates markets that do not appear to be meeting the needs of consumers and publishes the results. Some studies will be in response to super-complaints, a route for designated consumer bodies to bring complaints to the attention of the OFT.

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What is involved in the studies?

Market studies involve an analysis of a particular market with the aim of identifying and addressing all aspects of market failure from competition issues to consumer detriment and the effect of government regulations.

Possible results of market studies include:

• enforcement action by the OFT
• a reference of the market to the Competition Commission
• recommendations for changes in laws and regulations
• recommendations to regulators, self-regulatory bodies and others to consider changes to their rules
• campaigns to promote consumer education and awareness
• a clean bill of health.

We are currently running a consultation on our market studies guidance. This revises our current guidance on the OFT approach to market studies to better reflect the principles and processes that the OFT applies to its market studies. 

Download our current guidance Market studies: Guidance on the OFT approach (pdf 152 kb). 

Download a summary of market studies (pdf 204 kb)

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Send us your ideas for market studies

You can download our form to submit ideas for market studies (Word 38 kb).  Please return it to marketstudyideas@oft.gsi.gov.uk or by post to:

Market Study Ideas
Office of Fair Trading
Fleetbank House
2-6 Salisbury Square
London
EC4Y 8JX

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