On 4 September 2023, the Department for Business and Trade launched its consultation on ‘Smarter Regulation: Improving consumer price transparency and product information for consumers’. The consultation concluded on 15 October 2023.

The consultation focused on 5 policy areas (display of pricing information, hidden fees and drip pricing, fake and misleading reviews, online platforms, and online interface orders) and a question on further changes to the list of commercial practices which are in all circumstances considered unfair and private redress in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill.

Alongside the consultation, a nationally representative consumer survey was conducted relating to the display of pricing information, to deliver quantitative insight into consumer perceptions, behaviour, and preferences.

The purpose of this document is a high-level overview of the main themes which arose in those responses. It aims to reflect the views offered by a diverse range of stakeholders, but it does not describe all responses in detail. On the open questions, the department has undertaken a thematic analysis to identify the key issues raised. 

This document sets out the government’s response, policy decisions and next steps for each area of the consultation.