What are the experts proposing to address the UK's "sticky" inflation?

Experts are proposing that regulators take a more muscular approach to foster more dynamic, consumer-friendly markets in key service sectors like energy, telecoms, and personal finance.

What specific reforms do the experts recommend to protect UK consumers?

Experts propose restricting the use of "RPI-plus" pricing, mandating online cancellation for any service that can be subscribed to online, and even defining standard "plain vanilla" products to allow easier price comparisons.

Home / Business and Economy / Regulators Urged to Curb Exploitative Practices Harming UK Consumers

Regulators Urged to Curb Exploitative Practices Harming UK Consumers

Q: How are companies exploiting UK consumers, according to the article?

Companies are exploiting consumers through complex contracts, hidden fees, and automatic price increases that are difficult to cancel or avoid.

16 Nov

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Summary

Lack of competition in key service markets contributes to "sticky" inflation
Consumers struggle with complex contracts, hidden fees, and difficulty canceling subscriptions
Experts propose stricter regulations, including limits on "RPI-plus" price increases

Regulators Urged to Curb Exploitative Practices Harming UK Consumers

As of November 16th, 2025, a new paper suggests the UK's productivity and cost-of-living challenges are exacerbated by the way key service markets operate. Economists Andrew Sissons and John Springford argue that a lack of proper competition in areas like energy, telecoms, and personal finance has allowed companies to exploit consumers through complex contracts, hidden fees, and automatic price increases.

The authors point to "signs that the competition regime for services that require contracts" is failing to keep costs down for consumers. They highlight issues like the prevalence of "RPI-plus" contracts, where prices rise just above the outdated retail prices index, as well as the difficulty many face in canceling online subscriptions.