About the event
Date: Thursday 24 April 2025, 5.30pm to 8pm
The Bank of England is to hear from local people in Reading about the impact of the cost of living on their finances and their experiences of the UK housing market, as part of our Citizens’ Forum Programme which has been running across the UK since 2018.
The event is designed to gather information from local people, which will complement existing data and analysis, and help inform the Bank’s policy decisions.
Monetary policy has been guided by the need to squeeze inflation out of the economy to achieve the 2% target, both in a timely manner and on a lasting basis. High inflation has affected everyone, but it particularly hurts those who can least afford it.
Inflation has fallen over the last year, and is currently at 3% (as at January 2025). At the March meeting, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) maintained Bank Rate at 4.5%.
The event in Reading on Thursday 24 April (5.30pm to 8pm) will give attendees the opportunity to share their views with Bank officials, including Jane Cathrall, Executive Director, People. Jane will be joined by staff from the Bank's Agency for the Central Southern region.
The event will be chaired by Jon Yates, joint CEO of Berkshire Community Foundation.
Entry is via pre-registration for forum members only, but anyone aged over 18 is eligible to join our community and register to attend the Reading panel session before Thursday 10 April when registration closes.
Refreshments will be provided, and the Bank will make a payment of £25 to all attendees to cover expenses.
For more information about the Citizens’ forum programme or if you would like to attend the event, please contact Ann Whittaker on BankofEnglandOutreach@bankofengland.co.uk.