Rates, Housing and AI: What's Really Happening to Australia's Economy?

Interest rates remain at 4.35%, house prices are falling across much of Australia, and households are still feeling the cost-of-living squeeze. So, what happens next? Westpac Chief Economist and former Reserve Bank Assistant Governor Luci Ellis joins Sylvia Jeffreys to unpack the RBA’s latest decision, what it means for mortgage holders and why Australia’s housing downturn isn’t necessarily a crash. They examine what’s keeping inflation elevated, whether government spending is part of the problem, the complicated relationship between migration and housing affordability, and why Australia needs more skilled workers to build the homes and infrastructure we need. In this episode: What the RBA's latest decision means for interest rates Why falling house prices don't necessarily mean a housing crash Whether migration is really to blame for housing unaffordability When interest rates could begin falling Whether government spending and data centres are adding to inflationary pressure Why Australia needs more skilled tradies How women and older Australians are reshaping the workforce Whether AI will destroy jobs — or create new ones Subscribe for more conversations about money, property and the decisions shaping your financial future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.