FTC Publishes Inflation-Adjusted Civil Penalty Amounts

The Federal Trade Commission has adjusted the maximum civil penalty dollar amounts for violations of 16 provisions of law the FTC enforces, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. The Act directs agencies to implement annual inflation adjustments based on a prescribed formula. The new maximum civil penalty amounts took effect on February 14, 2019.

The maximum civil penalty amount has increased from $41,484 to $42,530 for violations of Sections 5(l), 5(m)(l)(A) and 5(m)(l)(B) of the FTC Act, 7A(g)(l) of the Clayton Act and Section 525(b) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. It has increased from $545 to $559 for violations of Section 10 of the FTC Act.

The maximum civil penalty amount has increased from $1,180,566 to $1,210,340 for violations of Section 814(a) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The maximum civil penalty amounts for other law violations within the agency’s jurisdiction are listed in the Federal Register notice.

The Commission vote to publish the Federal Register notice amending Commission Rule 1.98 was 5-0. (The staff contact is Kenny A. Wright, Office of the General Counsel, 202-326-2907)

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