Which organization is responsible for regulating market practices in the U.S.?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is indeed the organization responsible for regulating market practices in the United States. The FTC's primary mission is to promote consumer protection and to prevent anti-competitive business practices. This includes enforcing laws that prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce, as well as overseeing mergers and acquisitions to ensure that competition is not suppressed.

The FTC's activities are crucial for maintaining a fair marketplace, which ultimately benefits consumers and businesses alike by fostering competition and ensuring that consumers are not misled or harmed by dishonest practices. This regulatory role distinguishes the FTC from other organizations, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, which focuses specifically on overseeing securities markets and protecting investors; the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which regulates broker-dealers in the securities industry; and the Internal Revenue Service, which is concerned with tax collection and enforcement of tax laws. Each of these organizations has a specific, targeted regulatory role, but it's the FTC that has the broad mandate regarding general market practices.