The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) was a government department in the United Kingdom responsible for promoting and protecting consumer interests. It aimed to ensure that businesses operated fairly and competitively, preventing practices that could harm consumers. The OFT provided guidance, enforced consumer rights, and investigated unfair trading practices. In 2014, the OFT was merged into the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which took over its responsibilities. The CMA continues to work on ensuring fair competition and protecting consumers in the marketplace, addressing issues related to monopolies and unfair business practices.