The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced adjustments to the maximum civil penalty amounts for violations of 16 legal provisions it enforces. This adjustment is in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which mandates annual inflation-based updates.

The revised penalty amounts took effect following their publication in the Federal Register on January 17, 2025. Notably, the maximum civil penalty for violations of Sections 5(l), 5(m)(1)(A), and 5(m)(1)(B) of the FTC Act, Section 7A(g)(l) of the Clayton Act, and Section 525(b) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act has increased from $51,744 to $53,088. For violations under Section 10 of the FTC Act, penalties have risen from $680 to $698.

Furthermore, penalties for breaches under Section 814(a) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 have been adjusted from $1,472,546 to $1,510,803. The full list of updated penalty amounts for other law violations within the FTC's jurisdiction can be found in the Federal Register notice.

The decision to publish this notice amending Commission Rule 1.98 was unanimously approved by a Commission vote of 5-0.

The FTC continues its mission to promote competition while protecting and educating consumers. It emphasizes that it will never demand money or make threats and advises consumers on reporting scams through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For ongoing updates on consumer topics and business practices, individuals are encouraged to follow FTC's social media channels and subscribe to press releases.