Kate Ainsworth
Kate Ainsworth is a business reporter with the ABC's Business Reporting Team. After joining the broadcaster in 2020, she spent two years as a reporter in Hobart before working with its national digital and mobile teams.
She has previously worked in commercial radio and media research, and studied economics and media at QUT.
Latest by Kate Ainsworth
RBA governor Michele Bullock says she doesn't agree with IMF that Australia needs higher interest rates
RBA governor Michele Bullock says Australia doesn't need higher interest rates right now, despite calls from IMF and OECD.
RBA says rate cut could happen before inflation hits 2.5pc but needs to be 'very confident' about economy, ASX gains for third-straight day — as it happened
RBA governor Michele Bullock said the central bank would consider cutting rates before inflation returned to 2.5 per cent if the economy was in good shape, while the ASX ended higher for the third-straight day after a subdued start.
Price gouging report finds big businesses are exploiting Australians
The former chair of the ACCC takes aim at electricity providers, banks, airlines, supermarkets, and other big businesses in his new report on price gouging and unfair pricing practices.
Bullock says RBA 'didn't make a mistake' with November rate hike, doesn't rule out future increases — as it happened
The RBA has kept interest rates on hold at 4.35 per cent after its first two-day meeting, but says it cannot rule out future rate hikes to keep inflation in check. Look back on how the day unfolded with our blog.
Australian share market hits all-time high after inflation falls to two-year low — as it happened
The Australian share market sets a new record high after inflation hit a two-year low in the December quarter, as economists forecast interest rate cuts from the Reserve Bank could come sooner than expected.
Vacuum cleaner retail chain Godfreys collapses, 193 job losses expected in coming fortnight
Vacuum cleaner retailer Godfreys has entered voluntary administration, leaving 193 jobs on the line with 54 stores to close in the next 14 days as it undergoes a restructure while searching for a buyer.
Christmas retail sales slump on consumer pessimism, ASX near record high — as it happened
Last month's Christmas and Boxing Day sales were much worse than expected for Australian retailers. Meanwhile, the ASX was a whisker away from a record high.
Whether you understand it or not, bitcoin 'is here to stay' — and experts say it's about to get even easier to invest
The decision by the US Securities and Exchange Commission to approve bitcoin exchange-traded funds was a decade in the making that's legitimised crypto — and experts say it won't be long before Australia follows suit.
Thousands of people have been affected by a jump in credential stuffing attacks. Here's how to tell if you're affected
Credential stuffing has long been used as a form of cyber crime, but a recent rise in attacks has affected thousands of Australians. Here's what credential stuffing is, how it works, and how you can protect yourself.
ASX hits four-week low as commodity stocks slip on weaker prices: as it happened
The Australian share market has hit a four-week low, dragged down by commodity stocks on weaker prices, with heavyweight miners hitting their lowest level since early December.
Tiwi elders lose cultural heritage case against Santos; household spending falls: as it happened
The Federal Court dismissed a challenge by three Tiwi elders who were trying to stop gas giant Santos laying a pipeline near their islands off northern Australia.
Typing in your details when shopping online might be a pain, but cybersecurity experts say it's a small price to pay
Some of The Iconic's customers have been caught out by the aftershocks of a "credential stuffing" attack, but a cybersecurity expert says common shortcuts have put shoppers at greater risk without them knowing.
A basic security failure from The Iconic has put millions of its customers at risk of being defrauded
Online retailer The Iconic has failed to provide basic security measures to verify its customers' payment details when placing an order, putting its 2.1 million customers at risk of being defrauded, cybersecurity experts say
The Iconic online retailer faces customer fury over fraudulent transactions
Online retailer The Iconic has vowed to refund customers who have been left out of pocket by thousands of dollars after their accounts were compromised and fraudulent orders were made without their permission.
ASX jumps after Wall St tech rally, retail sales surge, as investors await fresh inflation data — as it happened
The ASX traded higher on Tuesday after Wall Street's positive session overnight, and was further boosted by a much bigger than expected jump in November retail sales. See how the day unfolded on our live blog.
Australian share market closes lower after mixed session on Wall Street — as it happened
The Australian share market has ended the first week of 2024 in negative territory, losing ground gained over the last two months as investors reassessed their expectations of interest rate cuts for the year, and wait for key data due out next week.
Airbnb fined $15 million for tricking thousands of Australians into paying higher prices for years
Short-stay accommodation provider Airbnb is fined $15 million for tricking tens of thousands of customers into paying higher prices for years by falsely charging them in US dollars.
The suburbs where property prices went backwards despite the housing market reaching a 'new peak' this year
House prices have gone from strength to strength in 2023, but some suburbs and regional areas saw median values decline by more than 10 per cent in the past 12 months after home buying demand dropped off after the pandemic.
Consumer watchdog criticises banks over customers missing out on higher savings rates, ASX jumps on rate cut optimism — as it happened
The ACCC has criticised banks for not passing on higher interest rates to customers with savings accounts, while the ASX has closed higher in response to rate cut optimism out of the US and Europe. See how the day unfolded on our live blog.
Treasurer unveils mid-year budget update, Mitsubishi wins High Court battle, ASX finishes at three-month high — as it happened
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has delivered his mid-year economic and fiscal outlook statement showing the budget's bottom line has improved, while the optimism carried over to the local share market through strong gains in iron ore producers.
Chemist Warehouse may be a discount pharmacy, but it's agreed to a merger worth $8.8 billion
After months of speculation, the retail pharmacy juggernaut that is Chemist Warehouse will merge with Sigma Healthcare to create the biggest pharmacy company in Australia. Here's how the deal came to fruition, and what it means for their hundreds of stores.
Jobs market gets worse, RBA strikes new deal with government, ASX gains on Santos surge — as it happened
A surge in Santos shares helped to lift the ASX higher for the week, while the federal government struck a fresh agreement with the Reserve Bank about how it conducts monetary policy. As it happened.
Australia's GDP figures miss forecasts, union says Australia Post changes will protect jobs, local shares finish higher — as it happened
Australia's economy grew by 0.2 per cent in the September quarter — lower than expectations — but rose by 2.1 per cent in the past year. The local share market finished higher on Wednesday after the data, despite a mixed session on Wall Street.
Regulators grilled over regional bank closures, falling inflation in US and Europe suggests end of rate rises, ASX slips — as it happened
A Senate inquiry examining the closure of bank branches in regional Australia has grilled the competition watchdog and financial regulator in Canberra, while the ASX finished lower after a modest day of trade.
Gerry Harvey, boss of Harvey Norman, says businesses are within their rights to pass on higher costs
Billionaire retail boss Gerry Harvey says businesses are justified in passing on cost increases through higher prices to maintain their profit margins and prevent bankruptcies, despite the RBA warning it could lead to higher inflation.